Square Enix: Fans Want More Worldwide Releases
Square Enix is a recognizable name and has been for decades. They have a vast and ever-expanding catalog of video games that every gamer knows about. From Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy VII on consoles to mobile games including Mana ports, Square Enix is no stranger to a diverse range of platforms.
Square Enix has made a name for themselves among Nintendo fans as pioneers of the HD-2D art style that was first seen in Octopath Traveler on the Nintendo Switch. Since then, the company has announced an Octopath sequel, a Live A Live remake, and Triangle Strategy – all with HD-2D textures on the Switch. Even the original Octopath Traveler game has made its way to mobile, named Champions of the Continent.
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is a prequel to the first game. It first released as a Japan exclusive back in 2020 and was later released worldwide in July 2022. But outside of Japan, platforms like Final Fantasy Grandmasters and Explorers-Force never see an international release.
Regional Releases
Many Square Enix mobile games has developed for Japanese audiences only, shutting down before international audiences had a chance to try them. For example, Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights received four million downloads in its first 11 days in Japan, but no Western release followed. Instead, servers shut down a year later, in February 2023. Square Enix shared that they could not “provide services that satisfy our customers.”
We must seriously consider the question of why Square Enix doesn’t expect to receive an international audience. Moreover, it begs to question whether worldwide releases for these titles may give them an extra breath of life, as 92% of all gamers play exclusively on their mobile devices.
In contrast, other mobile games based on pre-established IPs like Echoes of Mana saw a global release, but less than a year after its launch, it was confirmed that it was shutting down as well. As of now, Octopath Traveler holding strong, perhaps to promote the recently released sequel on Nintendo Switch.
Abroad and at Home
Square’s Western strategy continues to baffle fans. They recently sold Crystal Dynamics, Eidos, and Square Enix Montreal along with the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex brands to Embracer Group. This decision has likely refocused the company away from Western audiences. The total amount invested in the transaction was $300 million, and Embracer Group acquired approximately 1,100 former Square Enix studio employees. Also, amidst the fanboy discontentment, Square Enix reinforced its focus in the 2022 financial report on blockchain gaming despite repeated promises to invest heavily in it.
Square Enix is also aware of the difficulty companies encounter when they predominantly focus on Japan’s gaming industry. Last year, the company’s former president and representative director Yosuke Matsuda said it was crucial for their business to produce worldwide popular hit titles. This move creates a strategy that makes sense for Square, but it leaves a lingering question: Why are so many of their mobile games made exclusively for Japanese audiences?
However, Square Enix is making a significant move by relocating their main offices from Shinjuku to Shibuya this March. Shibuya is known for being one of Japan’s most fashionable and youthful wards. This is seen as a great opportunity to get more into Japan’s spotlight and continue expanding their business ventures. The company saw a 22.6% decrease in operating income in the last fiscal year, which indicates a need to relocate itself to a fashionable hotspot.
Despite all the shifts in strategy, we can only hope that Square Enix decides to release more games outside of Japan. The iconic company has so many great games; it would be a wonderful experience to play them internationally.