Square Enix is poised to undertake a comprehensive review of its development framework with the objective of enhancing the caliber of its games, as announced by the company’s president, Takashi Kiryu.
Kiryu’s declarations surfaced during Square Enix’s most recent financial briefing, as reported by Bloomberg. He outlined a strategy aimed at diminishing reliance on external development resources while emphasizing the creation of large-scale games internally. This strategic shift aims to elevate both game quality and profit margins.
The unveiling of this new development paradigm is slated for spring, as confirmed by multiple sources from the conference call, with implementation expected to commence in April, aligning with the onset of the company’s new fiscal year.
In the financial statement disclosed, Digital Entertainment’s net sales and operating income experienced a marginal 2.6 percent decline year-on-year for the current financial period spanning from April to December 31, 2023.
Segment-wise analysis reveals a positive uptick in net sales within the HD Game sub-category, attributed to the launch of titles such as Final Fantasy 16, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, and Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Conversely, the MMO sub-segment witnessed a decrease in net sales, possibly due to a tapering of interest in Final Fantasy 14 in anticipation of the forthcoming expansion, Dawntrail.
Notably, despite the debut of Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, net sales within the mobile game sub-segment also experienced a year-on-year decline, mirroring trends observed in the company’s previous financial report released in November.
Kiryu’s recent statements echo sentiments expressed in November, reiterating the company’s imperative to diversify its gaming portfolio while streamlining its release schedule.
Although specific sales figures for Final Fantasy 16 were not provided, the company had previously announced that the PS5 exclusive had sold 3 million copies globally within its first week of release.
The imminent launch of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth later this month is anticipated to generate significant sales, followed by the release of Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail in the summer, which could sustain the MMO’s position as the most lucrative installment in the franchise.
