Is Square Enix Slowly Leaving Japan Behind?
November 19th, 2008 | Written by Jamin Smith | Topic: Industry News
To say that Square Enix is big in Japan is somewhat of an understatement. However, the predominantly RPG developing giant has plans to branch out. Speaking to gamesindustry.biz, Square Enix’s president and CEO John Yamamoto spoke of their aggressive plans for growth outside of Japan.
“Although we have no concrete plans to speak of at this time, we are committed to taking an aggressive approach to expansion in North America and Europe, and we are not ruling out additional partnerships or the possibility of acquisitions, should they fit into our growth model.”
With the recent acquisition of Gas Powered Games, Square Enix’s plans for western development are already firmly in place. Supreme Commander, the first game under this partnership was recently released on the 360, and sees the company’s first true departure from the usual RPG affair.
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Job placements posted on the company website reveal that Square Enix is building a brand new studio in Los Angeles, for the supposed development of an action-orientated original IP. Seems that a lot of time and money is going into the pursuit of this western market, and Square Enix is certainly a big enough company to make it work.
After the announcement that Final Fantasy XIII was being released on the 360, and now the outward declaration from Yamamoto that the company plans to muscle into the Western market, Square Enix could become quite a power in the publisher war. Activision and Take Two better watch their backs, the Japanese giant is on the move.
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Comment by Anthony Perez on the November 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
It’s not surprising. North America is becoming increasingly important, but at the same time western design themes are kind of making a pretty big impact in even traditionally Eastern developers. Square very much showed its interest with the changed battle system in FFXII and by even developing FFXI.