Square Enix wants a three-way race

Publisher explains support for all next-gen consoles, saying it doesn't want Sony to be overwhelming winner or loser; no platform determined yet for next Kingdom Hearts.

Before the PlayStation 2 launched in 2001, Square Enix shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange were trading for about 2,000 yen (about $17.07). The stock has had its ups and downs over the last five years, but these days it's trading for about 3,000 yen (about $25.61). Clearly a generation of Sony domination on the console gaming front--one in which Square Enix devoted its biggest games to the PS2--hasn't treated the publisher too harshly. But according to a company official, Square Enix wants the console wars to shake out a little differently this time around.

In a Wall Street Journal article about Sony's new system, Square Enix senior vice president Michihiro Sasaki told the paper, "We don't want the PlayStation 3 to be the overwhelming loser, so we want to support them. But we don't want them to be the overwhelming winner either, so we can't support them too much."

The article also says that Square Enix is planning to support Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo's consoles more evenly than it did in the last generation, having already committed two games to each system so far (Final Fantasy XI and Project Sylpheed for the Xbox 360, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers and Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors for the Wii, and Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII for the PS3).

And while Sony's system will still be home to the latest proper installments in the Final Fantasy franchise, the Wall Street Journal reports that Square Enix "hasn't yet decided" which console will play host to the Kingdom Hearts series going forward.

640 Comments

  • Hydr017

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    It seems alot of ps2 players moved to Wii for a change of pace, with Nintendo grabbing the gaming market by the throat I'm not surprised, not to mention the fact that they still release games for ps2...if they're smart they'll release the next KH game on the Wii or 360.

  • amhero15

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 8:15 pm PT

    Well, I still would love it on the wii.

  • amhero15

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 8:13 pm PT

    This is unfair. Now, the Ps3 is not only losing in sails, but also in games.

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Sep 6, 2008 6:59 am PT

    kh 3 would suck on the wii, because the wii is the lamest of the consoles, i wouldnt mind it on either of the other two, but the people at squareenix are rather a greedy and manipulative lot, and pretty fing arrogant to think there support makes or breaks anything

  • darkwap

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 11:33 am PT

    if kh3 came to the wii it would be awesome but it would be better if it came to all consoles then no kh3 fan is left out and i think it would definitely help with there sales.

  • thomas10soa

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 8:01 am PT

    i am a hardcore kh fan but i wont buy a ps3 for it

  • Ultamite-Ninja

    Posted May 10, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    If they put KH 3 on the Wii my life will be complete. Please Square!

  • MogFromLeipzig

    Posted Apr 1, 2008 8:11 am PT

    But they sure want the new KH look good, so they won't bring it to the Wii. KH is supposed to be high quality like FF.

  • Xeiphyer

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 5:59 pm PT

    They want to put games out on every port because that way they will reach 100% of the market and generate alot more money. With the PS2 only game releases they didn't get to the xbox gamers and so they don't want to have a repeat mistake. Very Smart.

  • Axel_619

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    No to wii KH3. I want my KH on my PS with my high def. Maybe another KH, but not KH3.

  • uk_beny

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 9:50 am PT

    ohh my god just put kingdom hearts 3 on the wii and 360

  • williamjuly2004

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    Question why wouldn't Square Enix no want sony to win? I mean lets just say the PS3 owns the competion why would u want to waste money making ports 360 and another thing the majority of people who played KH and KH 2 were ps2 owners. So wouldn't the

  • Darkness-zora

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    Kingdom hearts on the wii would be sweet i would buy it

  • Anti_Chaos

    Posted Aug 18, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    Audience-wise, I wold have to say the Wii is the most solid choice for KH3. The audience for the Wii is the same of that KH3 has: everyone. Kids, teens, and adults alike enjoy the Wii and Kingdom Hearts would be a solic platform for it to be on. The PS3's whopping price makes it a better option for hardcore gamers. Although I wouldn't be too surprised (although slighlty disapointed) if it was released for the PS3, I think that in the most ways possible, the Wii is the most well-thought choice for the series's new home.

  • gangsterjc

    Posted Aug 16, 2007 7:42 am PT

    sqaure enix crud i thought there dead with this crap they must traded there creator with a monkey

  • ramen38

    Posted Aug 12, 2007 9:11 pm PT

    If they put KH3 on the Wii it will DEFINITELY help their sales, and make my life easier =3

  • bigmouthkid

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 5:32 am PT

    @veridac

    Usually because most games that go multiplat ends up sucking.

  • veridiac

    Posted Jul 13, 2007 10:49 pm PT

    Huh? Nobody owns Disney or Sony, as far as I can tell. What I don't understand is why they don't just release the games on more than one system!

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Jul 9, 2007 6:25 am PT

    Kingdom Hearts will definitely be on PS3. Disney = Sony it is just that simple. They are both owned by the same company it would be a dream to see it on 360 but that is highly unlikely.

  • syncroshadow

    Posted Jul 1, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    wait do they mean company or system. i hope they mean comapny. if kh 3 comes out on ds lite and wii. think about the sales! i can't afford a wii and my mom's too cheap (lol) yet I m going to get a ds lite.

  • TranceKuja925

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 6:27 pm PT

    it'll most likely come out on the PS3 but itd be cool on the Wii as well.

  • veiga_101

    Posted May 16, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    KH3 on PS3 would own graphically and keep the series ailve on the same boat, Sony. but if it came out on Wii i would rly like to get it to wield the Keyblade it would be freaking awesome!! I would still probably get it on PS3 for graphix cuz Kh ows graphically but I would even buy it on Wii too for the controls it would feature, who cares if I have the same game, my money!! And hey if they put it out on xbox360 nice for all xbox fans/Kh ans, its a ream come tue to them. You se it would probably feel awkward playing KH on Wi or Xbox 360 at first but its such an amazing franchise that it would be good for them to have even more fans out there talking about Sora and company!! GO KH!!!!!!!!!!

  • Kenshin112345

    Posted May 14, 2007 8:12 pm PT

    Kingdom hearts should come to the Wii. I want to hold the keyblade...........

  • deadstarr posted May 13, 2007 2:52 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    deadstarr

    Posted May 13, 2007 2:52 am PT (hide)

    IMO KH shouldn't come to xbox, it's a stupid idea for a game, And after playing it myself, i still very much hate it.

    "OH ARIEL TOUCH ME, USE YOUR TAIL"
    "OKAY SQUARE CHARACTER, LET ME JUST GATHER SOME MATERIA"

    Disney and square should've never "Teamed up"

  • llc012

    Posted May 13, 2007 12:08 am PT

    Just a simple cut and paste of Gears of War aka GOW reviews straight from gamespot site: We Say
    9.6
    You Say
    9.4
    (25,882 votes)
    They Say
    9.4

    i guess playing a highly received game is not remotely smart to do.

  • llc012

    Posted May 12, 2007 11:47 pm PT

    you've got to be a moron to say you'd never play GOW. unfortunately for Square they will not and never will be the deciding factor on what system will win this gen or next gen console wars. this is a new age and not any one game publisher can determine the fate of any console. competition is lovely.

  • Krunkcity3000

    Posted May 12, 2007 5:16 am PT

    NINTENDO Can't lose Zelda as an exclusive unless it stops making systems and becomes the next SEGA in the console war. Zelda is a NINTENDO made franchise. SONY still has GOD of WAR under it's belt and HALO for XBOX so all systems have their franchises. If systems go MULTIplatform that means YOU and SOMEONE else can play the same game. It's not like SONY is gonna pay you commission for every big PS3 title that goes over to another system so stop whinning about it. I own an xbox but i wouldnt give 1 1/2 S#!75 if Halo went to Nintendo and PS3. Why? Because it has nothing to do with me playing my copy of Halo. So quit hating on the opportunity for others to play your favorite games just so you can say that your PS3 gun is bigger than his Wii. LOL

  • Alucardmishima

    Posted Apr 29, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    everyone's saying 'how about KH on the other systems too', and square enix's wanting to even out the console wars, but i really don't see the same problem with nintendo or microsoft - neither of them are losing any major exclusives like Zelda or Halo, while Sony's losing Devil May Cry, possibly Final Fantasy, etc etc. By the end of it, Sony will be the one without any good exclusives.

  • Gunrock

    Posted Apr 24, 2007 12:14 pm PT

    we do play GoW, even GoW 2, if you mean GeoW thats totally different and will never happen

  • leapfrog91

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 5:32 pm PT

    Geez, both of you guys below me...why don't you want people who own other systems to be able to play the same great games? You want to make everybody who doesn't share your fanboyism suffer? Wouldn't it be nice if PS3 owners had the chance to play GoW?

    As gamers we should be rooting for as much multi-platform production as possible. For an extremely modest drop in performance, revenues are boosted so that more money can be invested in developing the games we love. And, most importantly, little Johnny down the block who only owns a -insert your console here- will be able to enjoy as many great games as possible.

    No bookworm would put up with saying they weren't allowed to read Atlas Shrugged because they wouldn't drop $600 for a page-flipper.

    There were always fanboys, but this generation is just ridiculous.

    Edit: BTW, I own all three consoles.

  • SilentNight0

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 2:05 pm PT

    I don't care what Square does to the FF franchise, as far as making other FF titles for other systems, but KH MUST STAY PLAYSTATION!!! First DMC, and now this...

  • GUNblader

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 12:16 am PT

    "How about KH3 on all systems. That way no one is left out, and we can all enjoy it. "

    how about "NO"

  • doughtybenjamin

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 8:38 am PT

    sounds good :-). i wanna play em all so i guess ill have to get an 360. but as tking1293 said KH on all systems sounds like a damn good idea to me :-).

  • Tking1293

    Posted Apr 14, 2007 3:21 pm PT

    How about KH3 on all systems. That way no one is left out, and we can all enjoy it. And Amercaonline, that isn't a real game. The article on it was in the April edition of EGM, April as in April Fool's. They pulled this last year saying that if you preordered TP you would get a graphically enhanced version of WW.

  • StOcKoHeArTs

    Posted Apr 10, 2007 2:23 am PT

    KH3 on PS3 lovely beautiful graphic's,gameplay ith new moves and use the SIXAXIS for reaction commands man that would be cool...

  • BIGboss600

    Posted Apr 9, 2007 7:26 pm PT

    kh3 for the wii i would get it on the wii

  • americaonline

    Posted Apr 8, 2007 7:49 am PT

    theres a kingdom hearts coming out for wii too, its called Mushroom Kingdom Hearts

  • XChaosHawKX

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 1:33 pm PT

    KIngdom Hearts 3 on the XBOX 360 did i get hit by a truck cause i must be in heaven!!!!!

  • wdatta

    Posted Mar 26, 2007 7:21 pm PT

    kingdom hearts has to be on the ps3
    it just wouldn't seem right if it wasn't

  • Blink182man4lfe

    Posted Mar 25, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    What exactly does PS3 have going for it, the free online play with 2 games or all the exclusive titles they have? Square is just throwing another nail in the coffin for Sony.

  • Half_Life865

    Posted Mar 24, 2007 6:52 am PT

    Go PC!!!

  • KoruKinshi

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 8:36 pm PT

    Yeaaaah, not gonna happen. Sorry. Besides, FF isn't exclusive to Sony as is. It *is* on the DS as well, you know.

  • quaddrag500

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 6:42 pm PT

    just as long as FF stays with sony thats all i care about.

  • budboarder

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    I think that is a good stance to make. I have a bias toward the PS3 but I dont think that any one system should have an overwhelming publisher advantage. The PS3 already has alot of things going for it and the hype is just growing as things get better. Good for you Square Enix.

  • Impact1989

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 12:39 pm PT

    Kingdom hearts 3 shud stick to its roots. it shud take full advantage of the ps3 hardware. imagine how amazing it'll look on ps3.

  • cosmo16

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 10:49 am PT

    it would be tihgt if it goes on the 360

  • puissance000

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 10:41 am PT

    if they can get the Wii remote to work correctly then Kingdom Hearts is coming to the Wii

  • Omega_DBZ

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:03 pm PT

    KH3 for wii would be bangin cuz KH is not about graphic cuz is square enix with disney together so its about gameplay and KH hav a gameplay like zelda so would be bangin to play for Wii

  • karahasan

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 9:02 pm PT

    Kingdom Hearts should go to the Wii. I find it a bit Zelda-like in terms of battle system, and graphics arent really a highlight for this game (which is why the main final fantasy series will least likely end up on the Wii)

  • Gooper_Blooper

    Posted Mar 22, 2007 5:57 pm PT

    Why do the Wii games have such freakishly long titles?

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