President Takashi Kiryu has outlined his strategy to streamline Square Enix’s portfolio of titles. During a recent financial briefing Q&A held last November and recently made available online, Kiryu emphasized the need to address the “limited diversity” in Square Enix’s lineup.
In expressing his vision, Kiryu articulated the goal of restructuring the development function to ensure higher quality across each title by reducing the overall number of games in the lineup. He acknowledged the company’s “overly reliant” position on specific genres and intellectual properties like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Kiryu recognized the importance of catering to a more diverse range of consumer tastes in various genres.
Furthermore, Kiryu stressed the need to enhance Square Enix’s internal development capabilities. He proposed a strategic focus on creating “carefully selected new titles” with an emphasis on achieving a high level of quality. This approach aims to strengthen internal development proficiency and establish a framework that consistently delivers high-quality games, ultimately contributing to increased profitability.
When questioned about the reasons behind Square Enix’s previous reluctance to trim its lineup, Kiryu identified a historical strategy of attempting to generate hits by developing a wide variety of titles rather than concentrating on specific ones.
Acknowledging the evolving market dynamics, Kiryu highlighted the increasing polarization between blockbuster and indie titles. He expressed a commitment to making clearer distinctions in the future, aligning the company’s game development strategy with the evolving industry landscape.
