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Square Enix promises to reveal more next week

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Earlier today, Square Enix tweeted that there’s going to be some clarification next week as to all the teases and tight lips on their games this year. Of course, a lot of this frustration and excitement is brought on by the possibility of Kingdom Hearts 3 being released exclusively on the PS4 and the high hopes of Final Fantasy Versus XIII being renamed and released as FFXV. Since the trailers and screenshots of Versus were teased as far back as 2006, all production or verifiable news of it has all but disappeared.

So for any of you fans of SE games, be prepared to possibly get jerked around again throughout next week. While one could only be hopeful that they’ll finally give us some information about new games and to which consoles they’ll be focused on, we might only get something as trivial as teaser trailers. Are you about as sick of 2013′s rumors as I am? Whatever comes next week, remember that your suffering will not last long because E3 is only several weeks away!

TVGB will be on the prowl at E3 with our Editor in Chief, Gregory Morton, and Editor, James Conway, looking to bring the best of the best to our Twitter and Facebook pages! Respond below in the comments sections if there are any games or people you want us to focus on while we’re there!

 


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Square Enix Posts Six Billion Yen Operating Loss, Blames North America and Europe

May 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Square Enix has had a difficult fiscal year, as evidenced by its fiscal year 2013 financial reports. We expected that the financial statements would be covered in red ink, but things are a bit worse than anticipated.

For the year ending March 31, 2013, Square Enix posted an operating loss of 6.081 billion yen ($ 59.8 million). Additionally, the company reported a decrease in net cash from operating activities amounting to 98.4 percent. Square Enix has pinned the cause for the significant losses on "underperformance of major titles for consumer game consoles in North America and Europe."

As we previously reported, Square Enix had extremely aggressive (to the point of being unreasonable) expectations for sales of Tomb Raider, Sleeping Dogs, and Hitman: Absolution. As a result of the company's financial status, it laid off staff in Los Angeles and Europe. Company president Yoichi Wada also stepped down.

In an effort to right the ship, Square Enix will be focusing more on mobile (though hopefully with better results than Final Fantasy: All the Bravest), and approaching development from a regional perspective. 

The financial notes also indicate that Square Enix is in need of better staffing, stating, "In order to achieve the Group’s medium- to long-term strategy, it is imperative to expand its global business and meet customers’ diverse content needs. To do so, it is critically important that the Group acquires and develops ideally suited human resources."

[Source: Square Enix (1), (2)]

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Oligopolistic console business to blame for Square Enix losses

May 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As Square Enix posts a swing to significant losses for the last fiscal year, the company has blamed the “increasingly competitive and oligopolistic” console game markets in North America and Europe. …


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Square Enix posts $134M fiscal net loss, projects profit for coming year

May 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As approximately projected, Square Enix posted a net loss of ¥13.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31 2013, that converting to around $ 134 million. Back in March, Square Enix announced it was implementing major restructuring that would produce an “extraordinary loss”. Today the company further detailed its new strategy for the next fiscal year, in which it projects a return to profit.

“The business environment surrounding the [Square Enix] Group is in the midst of major changes, where smart devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs are spreading rapidly,” Square Enix stated in today’s results, “while the console game markets in North America and Europe are increasingly competitive and oligopolistic. In light of such environmental changes, the Group is focusing all efforts on a substantial earnings improvement through driving reforms of business structure in order to establish new revenue base.”

Square Enix previously noted “weak” sales of “big console titles” in North America and Europe, including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution, and even Tomb Raider. Today the company said it will increasingly target smartphones and tablets, citing Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade and Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur as satisfactorily profitable. Square Enix also noted Dragon Quest X as “showing steady performance.”

As such, the restructuring brings overhauls to Square Enix’s larger-scale development,with the company looking to improve turnover and produce content better tailored for different regions. Square Enix was clearly dissatisfied with the performance of its western portfolio, and layoffs were incurred in the company’s North American and European divisions.

Square Enix believes these changes will be the platform for profit in the coming fiscal year, projecting net income of between ¥3.5 billion and ¥6 billion, or $ 344 million to $ 590 million.

JoystiqSquare Enix posts $ 134M fiscal net loss, projects profit for coming year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix lays off staff in Europe

April 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

According to a statement given to UK press (including MCV and CVG) by Square Enix, the publisher is instituting an unspecified number of layoffs in Europe. “We do expect changes to the UK office, which will affect personnel,” the publisher said. “We will update you when the time is right, but our priority right now is for the people within the business.” We’ve reached out to Square Enix for more information.

These cuts follow layoffs in Square Enix’s North American division, during which the company warned of cuts coming in Europe and Japan. Square Enix is undergoing massive restructuring, due in part to the fact that its Western console games only sold excellently, and failed to meet the company’s stratospheric expectations.

JoystiqSquare Enix lays off staff in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix releasing ‘Remaster’ soundtracks for SNES Final Fantasy games

April 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Square Enix remixing SNES Final Fantasy music
Square Enix is dipping into its back catalog to offer remastered versions of its SNES Final Fantasy soundtracks, starting with Final Fantasy 4 on July 3. The Japanese release of the CD will come in a special box with art by character designer Yoshitaka Amano.

While the CD soundtrack likely won’t see official release in North America, you can purchase it from an importer like CDJapan. And Square Enix is surprisingly good about digitally releasing soundtracks.

JoystiqSquare Enix releasing ‘Remaster’ soundtracks for SNES Final Fantasy games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Updated] Layoffs Hitting Square Enix In Europe

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

[Update] Square Enix has provided us with the following statement regarding the layoffs. 

“We are reviewing our [Square-Enix] business in Europe to ensure we have the right structure, content and skills for the changing entertainment landscape. We do expect changes to the UK office, which will affect personnel. We will update you when the time is right, but our priority right now is for the people within the business.” 

 

[Original Story]

The month of April has been filled with news of job loss and studio closures from across the industry. Square Enix has placed themselves back in the spotlight today, confirming to MCV that there will be cuts to the UK operation.

Square Enix laid off a number of employees in the United States earlier this month, citing missed sales targets for Tomb Raider, Hitman: Absolution, and Sleeping Dogs. By many accounts, the expectations for those three titles were unrealistic, setting up the studios involved and the related marketing and PR teams for failure. 

The poor financial performance saw the exit of Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada. Incoming president Yosuke Matsuda has promised a full review of the corporation's activities.  

[Source: MCV]

 

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Huge Square Enix losses were a sign I should move on – Yoichi Wada

April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“The huge loss was like a voice from the heavens telling me it’s time to move on.” – former Square Enix president Yoichi Wada explains why he is stepping down from his management role at the Japanese publisher. …


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Report: Square Enix Files Trademark For Tomb Raider: Reflections

March 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The website Siliconera is reporting that Square Enix has
made a filing for new Tomb Raider trademark in the U.S.

According to the report, Square Enix Europe filed a
trademark for the title "Tomb Raider: Reflection" with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. It is unknown what the nature of this filing is. It's
possible that this could be an entirely new Tomb Raider sequel, or just a DLC
pack. However, as we previously reported, Crystal Dynamics has said that it has
no plans to release single-player DLC for Tomb Raider, and all future DLC would
be multiplayer focused – which seems to suggest that Tomb Raider: Reflections
could be a brand-new Tomb Raider game.

However, as always, it's important to point out that
trademark filings are not always indicative that a game is currently under
development.

Source: Siliconera

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Editorial: How Square Enix Can Save Final Fantasy

March 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Final Fantasy is one of the oldest series in the industry, but longevity doesn't guarantee success. This hardware generation hasn't been easy for Final Fantasy, but as a fan from the beginning, I don't think all hope is lost for the legendary role-playing franchise. With new consoles on the horizon (and a new entry confirmed to be in development), these are the things Square Enix should do to restore Final Fantasy's reputation and start the next generation off right.  

Don't Dilute The Brand
In the SNES and PlayStation eras, the Final Fantasy name meant something. A new entry in the series was once a big deal, but Square Enix has been liberally applying the name to a glut of releases on various platforms. Amid an array of sequels, Final Fantasy VII spin-offs, and bizarre genre experiments like Dissidia and Theatrhythm, the value of the Final Fantasy moniker has diminished. Also, when a new Final Fantasy game comes out, the name should be just be followed by roman numerals, not gibberish.


Enough With The Remakes and Rereleases

I love Final Fantasy IV, but that doesn't mean I need to play it in multiple incarnations across a variety of devices. From handhelds like the DS and PSP to mobile phones to download services, classic entries are abundant. All the while, the Final Fantasy VII remake fans have been clamoring for still isn't happening. For the audience that is anxiously awaiting the next "real" installment, Square Enix's habit of endlessly returning to the well sends a message that the company cares more about mining the series' past than guiding its future. 

Pretend Final Fantasy XIV Never Happened
I understand that games are expensive to make, and that knowing when to stop sinking money into a project is difficult. But in the case of Final Fantasy XIV, the battle is already lost. The game originally came out over two years ago, and people didn't want to play it. Despite the changes on the way in the Realm Reborn campaign, I don't think Final Fantasy XIV can succeed in doing anything but sponging money and time away from more valuable Square Enix projects. 

Either Make Final Fantasy Versus XIII or Don't
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The timeline surrounding Final Fantasy Versus XIII is extensive, to say the least. Square Enix revealed this game so long ago that an entire generation of hardware has come and gone with no hints as to when it will finally see the light of day. The company either needs to put a push behind the game and get it finished, or cancel it and let everyone know. Games with such a protracted development rarely turn out well.

Fix The Mobile Approach

Square Enix is mistreating Final Fantasy on two fronts in the mobile realm. First of all, the original games released for phones just aren't very good. Secondly, all of the titles are too expensive for what they provide. Who wants to pay $ 30 for an iPhone game? Rein in your expectations, charge a fair price for a good product, and maybe fans will support you.

Stop Copying Cloud and Sephiroth
Cloud was cool. Sephiroth was cool. However, that doesn't mean that every lead and antagonist in the series must be cast in the same mold. Squall = Lightning = Cloud. Kuja = Caius = Sephiroth. Yes, the ideas worked once, but part of the magic behind the characters was that everyone hadn't seen the archetype a million times before. If Square Enix were to venture into territory that isn't so well-traveled, I'm sure longtime fans of the series would welcome some new ideas.

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