Square Enix has a new president and new ideas on how to move the company forward. The publisher behind Dragon Quest announced three strategic changes to the digital entertainment business.
Western studios will shift focus to produce online-based titles. Considering how Final Fantasy XIV’s success turned the company’s balance sheet around this makes sense. Square Enix wants to transform the fixed-price model of purchasing games outright into variable earnings. Nosgoth, a free to play battle action game that takes place in the Legend of Kain universe, was cited as an example of this change.
In Japan, Square Enix will accelerate production of games for smartphones and tablets. Titles like Final Fantasy Agitio and how Dragon Quest ports will soon be available demonstrate this change. Finally, Square Enix wants to expand outside of Japan and primarily in Asia. They plan to license games like Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur to publishers in Asia like Shanda Games and bring Final Fantasy XIV to mainland China.
