Square Enix is reportedly set to considerably overhaul the way it makes video games following flat gross sales regardless of the discharge of a mainline Last Fantasy recreation.
In response to Bloomberg, Square Enix director and president Takashi Kiryu advised analysts this week that the corporate’s new construction will probably be introduced by spring 2024 and put in place in time for the beginning of April, and goals to enhance the standard of the corporate’s video games.
In its monetary outcomes for the 9 months ending December 2023, Square Enix’s gross sales have been basically flat, with gross sales from its digital leisure enterprise really down 4.7%. It is a considerably stunning consequence given the discharge of Last Fantasy 16 in June.
The PlayStation 5 unique offered three million copies throughout launch week, a determine that sparked a debate on-line about whether or not it had met Square Enix’s gross sales targets. The writer advised IGN in July 2023 that gross sales of Last Fantasy 16 have been “extraordinarily robust”, and insisted the sport had offered effectively relative to the PS5 set up base.
On the time, IGN sources conversant in the efficiency of Last Fantasy 16 confirmed gross sales had slowed significantly since launch however that the sport was not but thought-about a catastrophe. Square Enix then introduced Last Fantasy 16 would get two paid DLC expansions in September 2023, and confirmed a PC port was formally in improvement. The primary of those DLCs is out now, with the second due out in spring 2024.
Square Enix mentioned that falling gross sales and earnings on the digital leisure enterprise have been due partly to declines in MMO Last Fantasy 14 and cellular and PC browser recreation gross sales, in addition to elevated improvement prices and promoting spend. No point out was fabricated from Last Fantasy 16’s gross sales efficiency.
Final month, Last Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida mentioned it may be time for a youthful technology to guide the franchise and helm Last Fantasy 17. Within the shorter time period, there may be clear strain on Last Fantasy 7 Rebirth to do the enterprise for Square Enix. It launches on the finish of February.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.