PlayStation will lose Final Fantasy exclusives, as Square Enix announces plans to bring more of its games to Xbox and PC
We could be seeing more Xbox and PC gaming releases of Square Enix games in the future.
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What you need to know
On May 13, 2024, Square Enix released to the public (shared via@Genki_JPNon Twitter) a document containing the company’s financial reports for the end of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The report includes an important announcement from Square Enix that it plans to focus on releasing future games on multiple gaming platforms as part of a new business strategy.
Square Enix announce shift to multiplatform strategy as part of their new business plan!“The Group will aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. Especially, in regards to major franchises and AAA titles including… pic.twitter.com/3XNQHiamG0May 13, 2024
The full statement can be found on page 12 of the 32-page report and it reads:
“For HD titles, the Group will aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. Especially, in regards to major franchises and AAA titles including catalog titles, it will build an environment where more customers can enjoy our titles.”
What this means is thatSquare Enixis going to stop releasing future games from their major franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest as timed-exclusive PlayStation titles. They’ll ship games out on multiple platforms such asXbox, PC, and even Nintendo Switch on release day simultaneously instead of months or years for the exclusivity rights to expire.
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The reason for Square Enix’s new business strategy is that according to page 2 of the report:
“In the HD (High-Definition) sub-segment, consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, increased compared with the previous fiscal year due to the release of titles including “FINAL FANTASY XVI,” “FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER,” “DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince,” and “FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.”
Square Enix then notes, “However, operating losses grew due to higher development cost amortization and advertising expenses, as well as higher content valuation losses versus the previous fiscal year.”
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This means that while sales were up, operating losses were also higher because the games were more expensive. Square Enix hopes to combat this issue by releasing their games on multiple platforms instead of being constrained to a single console like the PS5-exclusive Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth currently are.
On top of committing to more multiplatform releases, Square Enix plans to revive some of its older IP with new games as noted on this quote from page 8 of the report:
“In addition, the Group will strive to increase its success rate in SD games by launching a carefully curated selection of titles. It will additionally explore ways to leverage its rich library of IP.”
Analysis: Could we see more Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games come to Xbox day one?
What this means for us gamers is that hopefully, we’ll be seeing more newupcoming Xbox JRPGsfrom Square Enix without having to worry about PlayStation exclusivity rights getting in the way. Perhaps we’ll be seeing some Xbox ports of titles fans have been requesting for years likeFinal Fantasy XVI,Final Fantasy VII Remake, and theFinal Fantasy Pixel Remasters.
Not only that, this new strategy could see Square Enix revive some of its lesser-known but just as beloved franchises like Parasite Eve or the Chrono series. I know I would pay for a new Chrono Trigger-style game.
Could this be whatFinal Fantasy XIV’s and Final Fantasy XVI developer,Naoki Yoshida was eluding to when he hinted at the possibility of Final Fantasy XVI coming to Xbox after the PC port was finished? We’ll have to wait and see if Square Enix’s new multiplatform business strategy pans out to find out.
Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander’s expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry’s most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!
