Square Enix is a big name in the video game industry. They have all kinds of incredible IPs that they deliver into the marketplace. The biggest of which is Final Fantasy. However, the company has attempted to bring out some smaller titles. With more players and devices available to enjoy games, the folks at Square Enix have tried to cover all their bases. Some have worked incredibly well, while others fell short of becoming that big blockbuster hit.
Today, we’re finding out that Square Enix is trying to restructure their development process. In a new financial results briefing, the CEO Takashi Kiryu spoke to some of the questions presented. For instance, a question asked whether the development function being spread across many bases makes development efforts difficult. That is when the CEO spoke on ensuring they are slimming down their lineup in order to produce higher-quality titles.
It has less to do with our development function and more to do with the numerous entries in our lineup. I want to structure our development function so that we are able to ensure higher quality from each title by slimming down our lineup.
Takashi Kiryu – Square Enix
It was then asked why Square Enix had taken so long to slim down their lineup. The comments offered by the CEO suggested that the teams were still looking to meet their customer’s needs, from the different types of games to the devices they were being played on. But it’s become clear that the team is trying to use its resources to focus on fewer titles, which can deliver a more quality product. Of course, that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t had success with the smaller titles released.
As our customers’ needs and the types of devices available have diversified, we have tried to produce hits by developing a wide variety of titles rather than by focusing only on certain ones. I believe that this has resulted in the splintering of our resource pool. Meanwhile, there have been clear winners and losers among the major titles released recently in the gaming market, and it has become possible for even indies titles to make their presence felt. The market is increasingly polarized between blockbuster and indies titles, but I feel that we have developed many titles that fell somewhere in the middle. I want to make clearer distinctions going forward.
Takashi Kiryu – Square Enix
Even the CEO mentioned earlier in the Q&A portion of their briefing that Powerwash Simulator was a hit released as a suitable title for the casual gamer. We just don’t know yet what franchises will get left behind in this new restructuring. Those of you who enjoyed the more niche title releases from Square Enix may soon find those titles slowly being tossed into the Square Enix vault. On the flip side of all this, we should see fewer title releases that fail to deliver from Square Enix, and only the more solid projects make their way out into the marketplace.
Currently, Square Enix focuses on ensuring they get Final Fantasy VII Rebirth out into the marketplace. That title is set to release on February 29, 2024, when it will become available on the PlayStation 5 platform.
