Square Enix is making its intentions clear when it comes to controlling future in-house developments. Following the results of the first half of the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2024), its CEO Takashi Kiru confirmed the corresponding change in the company’s strategy: prioritizing quality and reducing the number of developments.
“I want to structure our development so that we can ensure the highest quality of each title while reducing the size of our catalog,” Kyrou admits. “As the needs and types of devices diversify, We tried to create hits by developing a wide range of titles rather than focusing on just a few. Meanwhile, there have been clear winners and losers among the recent releases of major games in the video game market, and it’s possible that even indie titles have been able to make their presence felt.
The CEO notes that there is an increasing “polarization” in the market between mainstream blockbusters and smaller titles. However, your feeling is this the company developed “a lot of titles that fell in the middle”. “In the future, I want to make the differences more clear,” he concludes.
It is not for less. A lot of the projects we’ve seen over the last couple of years have been stuck there in the middle. We’re talking The Diofield Chronicle, Various Daylife, Voice of Cars, Harvestella, Valikyrie Elysium, Dragon Quest Treasures, and NEO: The World Ends With You. Games that are average compared to what we might expect, some are better and others are worse, but their impact doesn’t support the investment in them. There are few confirmed titles on the horizon from his label. Final Fantasy XVI’s next expansion titled Dawntrail is scheduled for this summer, while SAGA Emerald Beyond is slated for April 25th.
