Square Enix, the renowned Japanese publisher behind iconic franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, has unveiled a significant shift in its business strategy. In a newly published medium-term plan dubbed “Square Enix Reboots and Awakens,” the company has announced its intention to “aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy” for its AAA games, marking a departure from its previous approach of platform exclusivity for certain high-profile titles.
The plan outlines a three-year strategy aimed at driving long-term growth for the publisher. One of the four pillars of this strategy, focused on “strengthening customer contact points,” specifically highlights the shift towards a multiplatform approach. Square Enix states that it will “aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs.”
This strategic move is intended to “build an environment where more customers can enjoy our titles in regards to major franchises and AAA titles, including catalogue titles.” By embracing a multiplatform release model, Square Enix aims to reach a broader audience and provide greater accessibility to its marquee games across various gaming platforms.
While the plan does not explicitly mention specific titles, recent releases such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the upcoming Rebirth serve as prime examples of Square Enix’s previous platform-exclusive approach for AAA titles. The new strategy suggests that such exclusivity deals may no longer align with the company’s interests, and it may even consider releasing some of its “catalogue titles” on new platforms, potentially including Xbox consoles or the successor to the Nintendo Switch.
Alongside the multiplatform push, Square Enix emphasizes the importance of shifting “from quantity to quality” and delivering games that resonate with a wider player base. The company aims to “launch titles that ensure excitement that will bolster loyalty to our brand, placing top priority on bringing smiles to our customers’ faces,” and to “keep and build on the fan bases for our major franchises by regularly releasing AAA titles.”
This strategic overhaul appears to be the result of an announcement made during Square Enix’s financial results briefing in February, where President Takashi Kiryu indicated that the company was conducting a fundamental review of its development process to improve the quality of its games, with more detailed information promised for the spring.
During its latest financial results released today, Square Enix confirmed that it had canceled several projects deemed “incompatible with the Group’s revised approach to the development of HD games, which reflects such objectives as multiplatform development and the strengthening of internal development capabilities.”
As Square Enix embarks on this new multiplatform strategy, the gaming community eagerly awaits the impact it will have on the accessibility and reach of the company’s beloved franchises. With a focus on quality over quantity and a commitment to delivering engaging experiences across all major gaming platforms, Square Enix aims to solidify its position as a leading publisher in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.