Square Enix Confirms New Release Strategy for Final Fantasy Series

by

Square Enix Confirms New Release Strategy for Final Fantasy Series

Key Takeaways

  • Square Enix will move to multiplatform releases after disappointing profit margins from its HD releases, including major PS5 timed exclusives like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
  • Final Fantasy 16 did meet sales expectations, but Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s initial sales were apparently weaker than Square Enix’s estimates.
  • Future mainline Final Fantasy games may be entirely multiplatform, but it’s currently unknown whether the third Final Fantasy 7 Remake entry is a PlayStation timed exclusive.

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the evolution of Final Fantasy games since their inception, I can’t help but feel a tinge of nostalgia mixed with a dash of apprehension at Square Enix’s decision to move towards multiplatform releases.

Following concerns about moderate sales for both “Final Fantasy 16” and “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth”, Square Enix has announced a change to a multi-platform release strategy for upcoming titles. The latest “Final Fantasy” games were initially exclusive to the PS5, a decision that some believe may have impacted their commercial success.

For decades, Square Enix and PlayStation have maintained a close partnership, particularly with the popular “Final Fantasy” series. When “Final Fantasy 7” debuted on PlayStation 1 in 1997, it sold more than 10 million copies, making it the second best-selling game for that console. Similarly, the launch of the “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” in 2020 saw impressive sales exclusively on the PS4. Continuing this trend, Square Enix and Sony have continued to release major titles like “Forspoken,” “Final Fantasy 16,” “Foamstars,” and most recently, “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth” as timed exclusives for the current-generation PlayStation.

It appears that Square Enix’s decision to release their major HD games, like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as timed exclusives on the PS5 may have hindered their mass market adoption, leading to lower-than-expected profits. This conclusion is based on a recent earnings report published by Square Enix, which was initially discussed in May 2024 but only made public a few hours ago. In response to these results, Square Enix’s president, Takashi Kiryu, mentioned that the company launched several new titles within the HD Games sub-segment, but profits fell short of their expectations.

Square Enix Found Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s “Initial Sales” Disappointing

Kiryu noted that the launch sales for “Foamstars” and “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” didn’t meet the anticipated level. This doesn’t necessarily mean that “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” is a flop, as it had only been released about a month prior to this financial discussion. It’s also important to note that Kiryu’s statement wasn’t exclusively about “Final Fantasy 16” and “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” underperforming financially; instead, he was referring to Square Enix’s overall lineup of HD games in the previous financial year.

Last year, just like now, I found myself caught up in the buzz surrounding the financial performance of PlayStation-exclusive Final Fantasy games, specifically Final Fantasy 16 on PS5. After its release in June 2023, Square Enix’s stock price plummeted, leaving many to speculate that the game didn’t sell well and was the cause of the dip. However, Square Enix later clarified that Final Fantasy 16 had indeed met sales expectations, even if it fell a bit short at the “high end.” There’s an argument to be made that perhaps Square Enix’s internal expectations may have been set too high in the first place.

Despite some reservations, Kiryu’s remarks indicate that Square Enix could potentially end its exclusivity policy for major upcoming releases. It’s plausible that the next main installment of the beloved “Final Fantasy” series could be playable on multiple platforms, and games like “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” and “Final Fantasy 16” might become available on Xbox as well. It will also be intriguing to discover if PlayStation has a time-limited exclusivity deal for the third part of the “Final Fantasy 7 Remake”.

Read More

2024-09-18 20:24