September 18th 2024.
The recent sales numbers for Square Enix's beloved Final Fantasy franchise have been less than magical. Both Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 have fallen short of the company's expectations, despite their highly anticipated releases and initial promising sales.
During a financial briefing in May, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu expressed his disappointment in the sales of these two titles. He stated that profits did not meet their expectations, even though they had released multiple new titles, including the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Kiryu specifically mentioned the initial sales for Foamstars, another highly anticipated game, which also fell short of expectations.
It is worth noting that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth had only been on the market for two months at the time of the briefing, following its launch in late February. In response to these lower than expected sales, Square Enix announced their plans to adopt a multi-platform strategy in the future.
This decision is most likely a result of the underperformance of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16. While Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was initially a PlayStation 5 exclusive, it is now expected to be released on PC at a later date, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy 16 launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 in June last year and was recently released on PC, which may lead to an increase in sales in the coming months. It is clear that Square Enix will no longer launch future Final Fantasy titles on just one platform.
Despite these underwhelming sales, it is difficult to determine the exact extent of the underperformance, as Square Enix is known for setting ambitious sales expectations. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was the fourth best-selling game in the US in May, but its sales were still behind those of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Earlier this year, Square Enix suffered a loss of £112 million after cancelling numerous projects, as the company becomes more selective in the games it takes on. However, it is uncertain if this will affect their lower budget games or their AAA titles.
In addition to these financial challenges, Square Enix is also facing difficulties with their big budget games. Both Avengers and Forspoken failed to meet expectations and were considered financial flops.
Despite these setbacks, Square Enix is determined to make Foamstars a success. The multiplayer shooter is set to go free-to-play on October 4. Additionally, the company is constantly looking for new ways to engage with their fans, such as the recent crossover event with Bridgerton in Final Fantasy 14.
For those interested in staying up to date with all things Final Fantasy, Square Enix is encouraging fans to sign up for their newsletter and follow them on social media. They are also making it easier for fans to submit their thoughts and ideas through their Submit Stuff page.
In conclusion, while the sales for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 may have been disappointing for Square Enix, the company is still dedicated to delivering high-quality games and finding new ways to connect with their fans. With their multi-platform strategy and upcoming releases, it is clear that Square Enix is determined to overcome these challenges and continue to thrive in the gaming industry.
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