[Vyse]

Article:

Square Enix has suggested it's cancelled or rescoped unannounced game projects, as it continues to reassess its overall development strategy.

During a meeting held on March 27 – the details of which were shared on Tuesday – the company decided that it would "revise the Group's approach to the development of high-definition (HD) games with the intention of being more selective and focused in the allocation of development resources".

The publisher says that following this evaluation, it expects to report "content abandonment losses" of approximately 22.1 billion yen (141 million dollars).

This suggests that several projects have been cancelled, or rescoped amid a challenging games market.

Earlier this year, Square Enix decided to conduct a fundamental review of its development process, in an attempt to improve the quality of its games, according to Bloomberg. The decision followed the appointment of Takashi Kiryu as its new president last year.

During a conference call in February, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu reportedly said, "We are reviewing from scratch what the organisational structure is, and what the best way is to implement the contents of the pipeline."

Source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enix-looks-to-have-cancelled-games-stating-it-will-be-more-selective-in-future/

 

[Grinchy]

Article:

Square Enix has suggested it's cancelled or rescoped unannounced game projects, as it continues to reassess its overall development strategy.

During a meeting held on March 27 – the details of which were shared on Tuesday – the company decided that it would "revise the Group's approach to the development of high-definition (HD) games with the intention of being more selective and focused in the allocation of development resources".

The publisher says that following this evaluation, it expects to report "content abandonment losses" of approximately 22.1 billion yen (141 million dollars).

This suggests that several projects have been cancelled, or rescoped amid a challenging games market.

Earlier this year, Square Enix decided to conduct a fundamental review of its development process, in an attempt to improve the quality of its games, according to Bloomberg. The decision followed the appointment of Takashi Kiryu as its new president last year.

During a conference call in February, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu reportedly said, "We are reviewing from scratch what the organisational structure is, and what the best way is to implement the contents of the pipeline."

Source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enix-looks-to-have-cancelled-games-stating-it-will-be-more-selective-in-future/

They shouldn't feel too bad. I know a company that has thrown $100B in the trash can. It makes $141M look like losing a quarter.

 

[Stilton Disco]

This is what happens when they no longer have any western studios, that actually made profits despite constantly missing SE's insanely high sales targets, to obfuscate how bad the decisions they made with their Japanese games actually were.

 

[p_banned]

They need to make lower budget games like Valkyrie Elysium and Trials of Mana. Copying the Falcom formula of niche games.

 

[JORMBO]

They should make Forspoken 2. That will save them.

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

They should make Forspoken 2. That will save them.

Can't help but wonder if the canceled 141 million dollar game was Forspoken 2.

 

[Boss Mog]

I hope Just Cause 5 wasn't cancelled.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

And yet we really need to crank the price of games up to $70, you know, because of rising development costs.

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

They need to make lower budget games like Valkyrie Elysium and Trials of Mana. Copying the Falcom formula of niche games.

This to be honest. I am very nervous Star Ocean and Octopath Traveler will be getting screwed with this.

In a best case scenario, Square-Enix should be canceling what should be obvious shit, like the rumored GAAS Tomb Raider or anything like Avengers.

They need more Bravely Default, Guardians of the Galaxy, Minstral Song, Tactics Orge: Reborn, Star Ocean Second Story R, Octopath II, Triangle Strategy for a solid slate of AA mid tier games and RPGs, arguments can even be made Octopath is on its way to becoming a successor to old school Final Fantasy/SaGa style RPGs assuming its not canceled and III gets greenlit due to IIs overwhelming positive word of mouth, also SaGa is getting well received remasters left and right, and just had a new entry launch.

Mana getting its first new entry in over a decade with Visions of Mana, which is aiming to be a vastly enhanced Trials of Mana.

Dragon Quest III Remake and XIIs absolute absence since their first teaser reveals has me very concerned though.

 

[Stilton Disco]

This to be honest. I am very nervous Star Ocean and Octopath Traveler will be getting screwed with this.

In a best case scenario, Square-Enix should be canceling what should be obvious shit, like the rumored GAAS Tomb Raider or anything like Avengers.

They need more Bravely Default, Guardians of the Galaxy, Minstral Song, Tactics Orge: Reborn, Star Ocean Second Story R, Octopath II, Triangle Strategy for a solid slate of AA mid tier games and RPGs, arguments can even be made Octopath is on its way to becoming a successor to old school Final Fantasy/SaGa style RPGs assuming its not canceled and III gets greenlit due to IIs overwhelming positive word of mouth, also SaGa is getting well received remasters left and right, and just had a new entry launch.

Mana getting its first new entry in over a decade with Visions of Mana, which is aiming to be a vastly enhanced Trials of Mana.

Dragon Quest III Remake and XIIs absolute absence since their first teaser reveals has me very concerned though.

Wait, weren't their western games/IPs//studios sold off to the Embracer group? I could have sworn they no longer had any western stuff.

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Wait, weren't their western games/IPs//studios sold off to the Embracer group? I could have sworn they no longer had any western stuff.

Ah yeah that's right they did sell the rights to their Western games after Avengers. If they were smart they would have never gone for Avengers as a GaaS, and have had at least one or more new Tomb Raider and Deus Ex games to show for it, maybe even a Guardians of the Galaxy game trilogy instead of absolutely nothing.

 

[Pyrate]

I hope Just Cause 5 wasn't cancelled.

Just Cause 4 kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I love 2 to death and 3 is probably my most played single player game on PS4. But 4 felt it came out too soon relative to 3 and I don't remember any memorable addition to the series other than looking better. I would rather replay 2 than continue 4, which is what I'll do in a few months.

If they can make Just Cause 5 like something fresh then of course I'm all for it, but I think the series had had its run, doesn't need to be milked to death.

maybe even a Guardians of the Galaxy game trilogy instead of absolutely nothing.

Guardians of The Galaxy game was absolutely brilliant, I don't know where all that excellence came from, but they should definitely make another one if that team wants. Tomb Raider though, nah, that lackluster trilogy is enough in my opinion.

 

[Spiders]

Wait, weren't their western games/IPs//studios sold off to the Embracer group? I could have sworn they no longer had any western stuff.

They sold Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and their Montreal Studio ("Go" games) to Embracer.

 

[Boss Mog]

Wait, weren't their western games/IPs//studios sold off to the Embracer group? I could have sworn they no longer had any western stuff.

They still have Just Cause and said in 2022 during a shareholder meeting that a new entry was in development.

 

[ExpandKong]

I love Just Cause but 3 and 4 do kind of blend together in my mind. Would not be surprised if it got the axe from them.

 

[Boss Mog]

Just Cause 4 kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I love 2 to death and 3 is probably my most played single player game on PS4. But 4 felt it came out too soon relative to 3 and I don't remember any memorable addition to the series other than looking better. I would rather replay 2 than continue 4, which is what I'll do in a few months.

If they can make Just Cause 5 like something fresh then of course I'm all for it, but I think the series had had its run, doesn't need to be milked to death.



Guardians of The Galaxy game was absolutely brilliant, I don't know where all that excellence came from, but they should definitely make another one if that team wants. Tomb Raider though, nah, that lackluster trilogy is enough in my opinion.

I felt the same as you initially about JC4 but I gave it a second chance with the jetpack and I had a blast. I also loved the Solis Pro Tour challenges they added. Adding a sort of puzzle element to Just Cause was brilliant I thought.

 

[Yawnson]

I hate to say this, cause it would decrease their abilities to make high videlity games, but they need to focus on the switch and switch 2, Sony has sadly abandoned Squares core audience resulting in a platform thats terrible them.

 

[Hardensoul]

Square needs to sell roughly 2.5million more copies of FF7 Rebirth at $60 per to make up for 140m loss!!

Spoiler

j/k

Seriously did FF7 Rebirth bomb sales wise? Haven't heard any official sales numbers!

 

[Dacon]

They need to make lower budget games like Valkyrie Elysium and Trials of Mana. Copying the Falcom formula of niche games.

It literally doesn't make any sense that they aren't making FF games on smaller budgets like the original games. A game in the style and aesthetics of 6-9 in high definition would sell a ton and not cost 200 million to make, they could develop them faster and release them 2 years apart.

They could still develop their big AAA graphics showcases alongside them too. SE just has retards running the show.

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

It literally doesn't make any sense that they aren't making FF games on smaller budgets like the original games. A game in the style and aesthetics of 6-9 in high definition would sell a ton and not cost 200 million to make, they could develop them faster and release them 2 years apart.

They could still develop their big AAA graphics showcases alongside them too. SE just has retards running the show.

I am not even joking but there is a Square-Enix series that may be on the verge of breaking out as the spiritual successor to the old school Final Fantasy/SaGa.

Spoiler: Octopath Traveler

 

[ExpandKong]

I am not even joking but there is a Square-Enix series that may be on the verge of breaking out as the spiritual successor to the old school Final Fantasy/SaGa.

Spoiler: Octopath Traveler

Woulda been Bravely Default if they hadn't fucked up 2 grumble grumble

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

Square needs to sell roughly 2.5million more copies of FF7 Rebirth at $60 per to make up for 140m loss!!

Spoiler

j/k

Seriously did FF7 Rebirth bomb sales wise? Haven't heard any official sales numbers!

for an installbase of over 50 million you would have to honestly ask the people that sign the exclusivity agreements if its worth it as the attach rates on the ps5 are horrendously low

 

[Stilton Disco]

for an installbase of over 50 million you would have to honestly ask the people that sign the exclusivity agreements if its worth it as the attach rates on the ps5 are horrendously low

I'm not sure being multiplatform currently would have saved it. Playstation still tends to rule the roost for current gen games with regards to Japanese titles, even if the audience for such games on it is shrinking while on Steam has increased, but the bulk of the audience are still stuck in last gen playing on Switch.

When the Switch 2 comes out and is hopefully able to handle current gen game ports ports, then getting a Remake/Rebirth port onto it should be their number one priority, even above Steam.

 

[WhatIsThis?]

Square needs to pump the brakes and focus on smaller games and then maybe a handful of top tier stuff. Make sure everything can be profitable even if sales aren't record breaking.

It's like they're trying to replicate the production of Spirits Within every time they make a game.

Square needs to accept that they aren't the juggernaut they were during SNES/PSX.

 

[Vyse]

Square Enix's stock price surges despite announced 22.1b yen loss, shareholders optimistic

Article:

As the stock market opened on May 1, Square Enix's stock price hit 6,012 yen, rising by 5.14% compared to the previous day. It seems that shareholders' high expectations of Square Enix outweigh the company's recently announced losses, or as The Nikkei puts it, they feel that "all the bad news has been exhausted."

The surge in Square Enix's stock value came the day after the company announced that they expect an extraordinary loss of 22.1 billion yen (approx. $140 million based on recent conversion rates) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. The loss comes as a result of a policy change that was introduced on March 27, whereby the company decided to reallocate and refocus their development resources. This resulted in the discontinuation of titles in development, bringing about production cost-related losses and other expenses.

Although Square Enix did not name a specific title or clarify if they cancelled one or multiple games, their use of the term "HD game" (which they usually use to refer to console games, as opposed to mobile or online games) as well as the implied large scale of the project, caused concern among fans about the fate of Dragon Quest XII. There has been little information about Dragon Quest XII since it was first announced in May 2021, and it was recently reported that Square Enix's Yu Miyake would be leaving his position as Dragon Quest series producer.

Regardless of what titles Square Enix has decided to abandon, their actions seem to be consistent with comments made by CEO Takashi Kiryu in November last year. The freshly appointed CEO called for a more selective and concentrated approach to the allocation of Square Enix's development resources. He also suggested that the company had grown too dependent on strong IPs such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, leading to a lack of diversity in their portfolio. At the time, the company expressed regret at having made too many titles that "fall somewhere between" AAA and indie games, indicating their intent to narrow down their game lineup in the future.

Shareholders seem to have high expectations of Square Enix's upgraded policy and future endeavors, which is apparent from the company's rising stock price. Square Enix's stock price rose by 5.14% on May 1, and is climbing by an additional 2.51% at the time of writing.

Source: https://automaton-media.com/en/news/square-enixs-stock-price-surges-despite-announced-22-1b-loss-shareholders-optimistic/

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Woulda been Bravely Default if they hadn't fucked up 2 grumble grumble

Bravely Default team hinted at some something this year. Hoping its not a mobile game. Remasters of 1/Endlayer with their demo content would be nice, Qol update for 2, actual maps, weight ect bringing it on per with 1/Endlayer and of course Bravely Third/3.

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

I'm not sure being multiplatform currently would have saved it. Playstation still tends to rule the roost for current gen games with regards to Japanese titles, even if the audience for such games on it is shrinking while on Steam has increased, but the bulk of the audience are still stuck in last gen playing on Switch.

When the Switch 2 comes out and is hopefully able to handle current gen game ports ports, then getting a Remake/Rebirth port onto it should be their number one priority, even above Steam.

but it would not of made things worse....it just shows 2 things

1) People are sick of remakes and it might be time to put the final fantasy ip down for a few years and work on something else
2) Exclusivity deals do nothing but benefit sony.....and even then playstation owners dont buy the games


i agree if the switch 2 is somewhat competent in running these games their balance sheet will look much better,they have a way higher attach rate