Square Enix Aims to Trim Game Lineup

 Square Enix Aims to Trim Game Lineup

President Takashi Kiryu recently revealed Square Enix's strategy to streamline its portfolio of game titles during a financial briefing Q&A held last November, which has recently been made available online. Kiryu emphasized the need to address the "limited diversity" present in Square Enix's lineup. He expressed his intention to restructure the development function, aiming for higher quality in each title by reducing the overall number. The president pointed out that Square Enix had become "overly reliant" on specific genres and intellectual properties (IPs), citing examples like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. He recognized the importance of catering to the diversified tastes of customers, indicating a desire to break away from genre-specific dependence. Kiryu stressed the necessity to "strengthen the internal portion" of Square Enix's development function. The focus will be on crafting "carefully selected new titles" developed to a "high level of quality." The goal is to enhance internal development capabilities, improve proficiency, and establish a consistent ability to produce high-quality games, ultimately boosting profitability. In response to questions about the challenges of slimming down the game lineup, Kiryu acknowledged past strategies, stating that the company previously attempted to achieve success by developing a broad spectrum of titles rather than concentrating on specific ones. He recognized the evolving market dynamics, with a growing divide between blockbuster and indie titles, and expressed the need for Square Enix to make clearer distinctions in its future approach.