Report: Square Enix seeking US publishing partner

"Worried" by lagging PS3 sales, the Final Fantasy publisher looking for help to raise non-Japanese revenues by 50 percent, says the Financial Times.

Square Enix is an institution in Japan, where new entries into its Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series draw crowds akin to a new console launch. The Tokyo-based publisher also has a big following in North America--but not big enough, according to a recent Financial Times report.

Over the weekend at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the Times spoke with Square Enix senior vice president Michihiro Sasaki. The executive explained that in the coming months, the publisher wants to strike a deal with an American partner to help market its games stateside.

"We need to seek cooperation with a US publisher," Sasaki said. "Our strength is in role-playing games and fantasy titles, so it is a bit difficult to appeal to the US market." He went on to bemoan the fact that the US and Canadian markets are dominated by action games, such as the preordained blockbuster Halo 3.

A deal with a US partner would be part of Square Enix's new initiative to boost revenue from overseas markets. Sasaki told the Times that executives at the company feel it is "imperative" to "raise overseas sales to 50 percent of overall revenues within three years." The company is also looking to expand its presence in casual games and in massively multiplayer online role playing games, which generate ongoing revenue via subscriptions.

Sasaki also told the Times that Square Enix executives are "worried" about sales of the PlayStation 3, which continues to trail the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii in global sales. The publisher has invested heavily in several upcoming PS3 exclusives, including Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Square Enix's sole next-generation role-playing game to date, Final Fantasy XI for the Xbox 360, sold nearly 174,000 copies in the US, according to the NPD Group. An expansion, Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess, is slated to arrive in November.

289 Comments

  • Spryt

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 10:15 am PT

    The 360 is only cheaper because it is cheaply made & terribly manufactured - just like everything American. Take your cars for example.
    The 360 is only seeing so much games go to it's console is to reduce development costs which is ultimatlly the reason behind & the result of short games due to the dismal storage space & processing power.

    Calling for this game to the 360 to "make more money" is... ridiculous. The PS3 rules supreme in Japan and has the fastest sales growth (behind the Wii & the DS) in europe. So microsoft sales of this game are no were near as high as you think they will be. If the release of the XIII series was to make more money the franchise would go to the Wii first!

  • _full_metal_

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 12:52 pm PT

    what is SQ worried abt there are more than 11 million ppl tht own a ps3 world wide and im sure more than half of them want FF and im sure by 2009 the number will b double tht and double the number of ppl who want it

  • Ravage27

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 9:56 pm PT

    lol MS is the new king...dream on

  • APOLLOCJD

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 6:43 am PT

    Square I am sure MS Studios would be interested in a partnership lol.....like that would ever happen

  • DJOHSHIT

    Posted Feb 11, 2008 11:38 pm PT

    PLZ BRING IT 2 THE 360 IT WILL MAKE SQUARE MORE MONEY THEN SONY WOULD SO STOP BEING BLIND I OWN A 360 NOT A PS3 FOR GOOD REASONS EXPENSIVE!!!! MICROSOFT IS THE NEW KING JUST BOW 2 THE NEW KING OF CONSOLES AND GAMERS.

  • Blindfeld

    Posted Jan 1, 2008 4:53 pm PT

    I'm waiting for a few more games that I want to come out-- then I'll buy the PS3

  • Deyyhayederaned

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 3:56 am PT

    I think that even though their are still many PS3 titles yet to be released that would certainly boost console sales, its more on the lines that things are drawn between quality and qauntity. Most games for the PS3 are just as visually appealing as X-360 games, the key difference being that PS3 is really expensive and until absolutely ground breaking new games are released the console sales will likely stay low. I think that the new Final Fantasy Titles will almost certainly boost sales, though at the moment they look like they are going to be in development for a long time yet. Overall I stick by it being over-priced and most people will not spend £425 on a PS3 when they could get an X-360 for about £100 less, I am not cheap but I'm also not stupid with money. I also agree that they should remake the masterpiece that is FF7, unfortunately I was never really engrossed by it when it was new as I lived in dark box until 4 years ago. However it has to be said that more over game-play I like a good plot and mega graphics.

  • Persaiyez

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    IF SE wants to boost their sales for N.A then they should release most of their games internationally,Tht would boost their sales up exponentially.The games for next year would make the PS3 more popular..G.O.W 3 M.G.S.4 etc.They should stop making remakes for games they already made like ff-x2..which noone wants to play...N.A is mostly FPS games..draw people's attention like FFVXIII.The sales for PS3 wouldn't boost most likely till next year when the games for the PS3 come out.Then they'll see increase in sales...its still early they shouldn't necessarily worry about anything till next year sept,oct!

  • mikedarkness

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 6:58 am PT

    they want to boost sales release ff7 for PS3...plain and simple

  • crlake

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 12:53 am PT

    Start selling your freaking "International" games -- internationally. Duh. Start selling your Mobile Phone games ON-LINE, screw the phone companies. I hate FPS. I like using my brain -- not just button mash. Many, many people feel the same way.

  • solaris1979

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 11:28 am PT

    I felt dumber just reading Digital_XTC's comment. I mean.. seriously? World wants Final fantasy to end? RPG just same game with different graphic and story? Do you read books? I guess if you have a dictionary, you can stop there, rest of the books are just differently titles with words in different order. And honestly, since you play a lot of FPS, tell me how any of them differs? How about Godfather and GTA? Did you even think?

  • ukillwegrill

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 4:53 am PT

    microsoft will publish it .........

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Oct 20, 2007 8:19 pm PT

    Final Fantasy is like an oasis in this desert of FPS (First Person Shooters) that is called america

  • bakasora

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 10:57 am PT

    lots of shallow people

  • KingBahamut

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 10:41 pm PT

    What KH final mix isn't out here nooooooooooo!! we also never got FF10-2 last mission why can't we get them

  • cloud1980

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:54 am PT

    If square enix wants to boost their NA sales, then they should, oh I don't know, release all their games in NA. The KH Final mix's would make them a profit over here, I don't know what the hell they're concerns are. Plus Crisis core shouldn't take that long to localize.

  • Rocket1988

    Posted Oct 3, 2007 11:18 pm PT

    I dont know what SQ is Bi**** about. The games their making aren't coming out till 2009, if that, by then sony will be back on top due to MGS4 and some other notable titles. Maybe if they quit giving interviews for magazines stationed in New York and do their work in Japan they could get done. FF is huge here and everyone will notice it with the graphics that are coming out. Let the game do the talking. AND QUIT MAKING REMAKES, i don't want to play FF 2 for the third time, it was so-so the first and it sucked the last.

  • hot_dao

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 6:27 pm PT

    HAHAHA!!!
    Square-enix is getting stupid!!!
    I mean if fans want the game then they MUST get the PS3...
    Making PS3 Sales more higher and it'll go higher if Sony will lower the price even more...
    But the PS3 is a must for enterament perposes anyway... Cheapest Blue-Ray Player...
    Anyways why the hell are you going to make a moblie game!!!
    STUPID!!!

  • robdaman111

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 1:19 pm PT

    i honestly dont know what the executives are worried about one the fall line ups over and the ps3 has generated some money which it will with its line up 2008 will b the ps3's best year so far, all in all fall of 07 is a great line up no matter what console (or pc user) u own

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Oct 1, 2007 1:23 am PT

    I agree Caem to a certain point. Sony really screwed up, but think about it. When Sony had no competition they got lazy and so did the developers, MS will become the same way if Sony doesn't step up soon. Though I'm an x360 fan, I do want Sony to do well. The more competition, the better the games,prices and features we'll have to choose from. Sony already knows they'll need to get in the $399-$299 range to even compete. But don't be fooled Sony has more titles than MGS 4 and FFXIII coming that will be just as good or better. I don't think Sony is stupid enough to let ANOTHER year go by and only put out two quality games.

    PS. All major corporations are evil,not just MS..lol. Did you know that the CEO's from MS,Sony,and Nintendo play golf together a couple times a year? Probably laughing at us gamers bickering amongst each other on forums while they PLAY TOGETHER getting RICHER...lol

  • Thigeic

    Posted Sep 30, 2007 4:33 pm PT

    Born4this, when you say, 10 hours of my life ill never get back, im starting to doubt that you play RPG's Since one game is easly 50hours(minimum) youll never get back of your life. But all games are the same aslong as thay are in the same genere. Be RPG, jRPG, Action RPG, FPS, RTS. But thay all evolve. Atleast alittle at a time. Until some game comes along(like Halo, that added some nice things that all games uses now) adds some stuff, and it evolves a little. Very few games in any genere changes the gameplay very much, and by that, thay all stays pretty much the same.

  • XboxGuyxx

    Posted Sep 30, 2007 9:15 am PT

    It looks like Square Enix is in a tight spot. I suggest to all 360 owners not to buy any games by Enix until they produce FF for the box. It's simple, 360 is doubling PS3 sales every month. Half of PS3 install base is in Japan, that means that PS3 has a quarter of 360's US install base. If Square wants this market so bad let them put their money where their mouth is.

  • A7Xfan

    Posted Sep 30, 2007 1:51 am PT

    This sounds like a good time for EA to come in and make some money. but you know their values aren't nearly the same as Square Enix. What US company really would want to do this?
    Epic is obviously in it for the blockbustters but again I couldn't see them suporting every game put out on the US market. If they invested in FF products and maybe Dragon Quest then it might be a smart deal. However you've got great games like Radiata Stories (I believe that was SE ) just don't have the history in the US market or introduce new things appealing to American consumers...
    Epic? EA? (not American but) Ubisoft? I think having this third party is really going to funnel the amount of games we get down to the sure hits and ones with great ideas that will catch on. In other words count out much beyond Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.

  • Born4this

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm PT

    LegionOSH

    it took you 15+ hours to beat Halo 3? what about gears of war? more than 20+??? HAHA... both games... although Halo rules, only took 8 hours on HEROIC. Gears of war... that POS took about 10 hours... 10 hours I will NEVER get back... i was just wondering....

  • Born4this

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    Digital_XTC:

    are you kidding? Either you're kidding or your IQ HAS to be below 90. First of all, if you're going to claim that RPG's are all the same with different graphics and new stories, try looking at FPS, or Sports games, or whatever other genre you like. RPG only share the fact that you (the player) actually have to think and make a strategy for the entire game. Play Star Ocean 3 and Final Fantasy X then come back to me and say they are the same. Then i'll KNOW you're just dumb! What about Halo? don't get me wrong I love all three, own all three, and play them all constantly, but you can take every Halo, every Doom, every Half-Life, gears or war, and ANY other FPS/shooter and they are all exactly the same except for the story and the graphics. But you think it sticks out more for RPGs??? Have you ever actually played more than one? I really don't think so. Take Kingdom Hearts 1 and KH 2... gameplay VERY different, SAME FREAKIN TITLE!!! you CANNOT say that about halo.

    And if you HONESTLY think that the WHOLE WORLD want Final Fantasy to go away, I seriously feel sorry for your simplicity. Final Fantasy XII was huge, and FF XI was a big online hype as well. And the only thing that will keep PS3 alive is Metal Gear Solid 4 and FFXIII. So next time actually try thinking about the dumb things you say before you say them... or just STFU cause you don't know what the hell you're talking about!

  • Skinn_E_G

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 6:46 am PT

    You'd think they'd be making enough money from remaking old games to offset the big budget games.

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 6:27 am PT

    I wonder if they would do a RPG action game. The RPG element added in games seemed to bring more strategy and depth.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 5:02 pm PT

    i didn't agree with u @Nerissa...you know what distinguish square enix with other developers...the RPG games....their identities start with a RPG genre....so if they start to doing more action games than RPG..then they are nothing compared to the others American developers...i didn't mean American/eroupean developers make a good action games than Asian developers..sometimes american/eroupean games are suck too compared to the asian games and vice versa...just want to state that Square enix is in their right track to produce a RPG games to peoples because that is their specialty in their company..Ok just imagine Epic games or Bungie doing a RPG games...what do you expect?...it's the same for Square enix..for action games...Not to mention...Square enix can produce an action games but in RPG styles...still RPG is their specialty....Don't argue about it....

  • Azhar85

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 11:40 am PT

    mann..fanboys down there that didn't use high def for next-gen gaming...what the .....sucks..that so lame......why buy next-gen console if u want to play it on sd tv.....just stick with your last gen console....you worth it...

  • ocdog45

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 10:53 am PT

    if they did it, it would help the ps3 having reps here in the us

  • Cruven

    Posted Sep 28, 2007 3:52 am PT

    I'm happy that 13 isnt going to the 360 (which i own). Simply because im tired of it. Also keep in mind Square has said after 13 there will only be nintentdo and PSP games because they said PS3 and 360 are "too complicated..needing internet and High definition." I dont use High definition adn my games work just fine as it is.

  • Digital_XTC

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 9:52 pm PT

    I think its time they make a good game that doesn't have the name final or fantasy in its title. Just like movies that wear out there welcome by recycling the same characters for 10 movies, Square is following suit. The Japanese are loyal to branding not to quality. Where US, Canada and, a majority of the world would rather see square drop final fantasy all together if it meant they where gonna release something new and fresh. Although when it really comes down to it all RPGs are the same. Just different graphics and different stories. Although that could also be said for many game genres I personally think it sticks out more in RPGs.

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 9:43 pm PT

    Yep, you guessed it. And my PS3 has not broken yet, it just sits there looking pretty (which is about what is good for right now. In saying that I would rather drive a nova that occassionally has to be into the shop (with no charge for repairs) than to have a have Ferrari you can't even take out of your garage. But staying on topic here, if SE wants to make more money they have to go with the larger user base. And don't get fooled by the power of a system, the Sega Saturn was more powerful than any system out there at the time and it failed; The original Xbox was more powerful than the PS2 and it was still being out sold by a 2:1 maybe more. Why? Because it's the GAMES that sells systems which is why X360 is beating the PS3 in sales. Check the 1st year total sales of both systems ( the high price tag didn't help either) and games and x360 wins hands down. I honestly hope Sony gets back into the game. The more competition the BETTER FOR US. I'll always have some feelings towards MS, it's the only American company that was willing to challenge Sony...I was beginning to think the U.S. corporations were cowards. BUT all and all I love great games no matter what platform it comes out on.

  • hazelnutman

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 6:56 pm PT

    Well, Final Fantasy XIII and Versus are PS3 confirmed exclusive, so, hey, I'm happy!

    PS to TheoleDominion1:
    "And as soon as my x360 gets back from repairs I'll prove it to you...lol"

    Let me guess, the red ring of doom, right? Glad my PS3 doesn't malfunction on a regular basis.

  • LightAngel_19

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 6:45 pm PT

    TheoleDominion1, I owned a 360 and i seen its amazing graphics, but in reality the PS3 still wins even with their lack of making games with the PS3 true potential. Only reason the games in multiplatform look the same in PS3 and Xbox360 its because the publishers dont want to have a favoratism. If each had their seperate graphics PS3 would win. Look up PS3 technology...... then compare. PS: TheoleDominion1, I didnt say everygame would be better I said FFXIII would be.

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    LightAngel your logic is flawed, if they are looking for NON-Japanese sales who would they look to for help? The solution would be proven through sales of a publisher. What publisher has the most sales? If you ever decide to own a business I hope you fix your logic and be more objective in your thinking. That kind of thinking would cost you your business. YOU GO WHERE THE MONEY IS!

    PS. It is NOT on PS3. And saying any game would be "10xbetter on PS3 is an outright lie. For those of us who own both systems(which I do) knows for a fact that most titles released on both, the x360 version runs better. And as soon as my x360 gets back from repairs I'll prove it to you...lol

  • LightAngel_19

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    Switch FF titles to the XBOX360? cmon... we all know it would be 10xbetter on the PS3 since its the original maker of FF, (before Nintendo).
    As for making FF multiplatform, yea it would make more money and 360 guys would love but ok then, manny ppl bought the 360 just for Halo, y dont ppl do the same for PS3 FFXIII? which is way better! Yea it is expensive $500 but look what you are getting; Blue Ray Player included, Best Graphics, n as for games just be patient. I agree with PS3 games right now are kinda wack and only like 2-3 good titles but be patient just wait and see. Its like saying lets switch Halo 3 to the WII since it has the most sales cmon ...... ppl lets be resonable you think other ppl wouldnt like to play Halo 3 on PS3 and the WII (even though it coulndt support it)? of course they would. It would make sales deeply increase. Also the Xbox360 included with a HD player how much is it all together? do the math, Xbox360 Core, $280 + 180(HD) = $460 + failure rate, Premium Xbox360, $350 + $180 (HD) = $530 + failure rate, Xbox360 Elite $450 + $180(HD) = $630 + a lesser failure rate, makes you think twice even with the Microsoft warranty. For Halo fans what if your 360 went out during an intence gameplay? you would be mad. im not saying Xbox360 is the only one having failure rates, but it is the highest and for the richest company in the world its unaceptable. Why dont we just leave PS3 and its exclusives alone, after all every console has its own exclusives.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 12:09 pm PT

    Then square enix...what are you waiting for.....just port your titles to the Xbox 360 and made it multi-platform...i'll sure MS will be glad to publish the titles for you...

  • kenerhai

    Posted Sep 27, 2007 11:54 am PT

    Sasaki also told the Times that Square Enix executives are "worried" about sales of the PlayStation 3, which continues to trail the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii in global sales.

    time to start rethinking those "exclusive" games. time to make those flagships titles multi-console. heres a hint squenix, microsoft would be more than willing to help publish those games for ya!

  • wizo59mt

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 9:18 pm PT

    personall i think square-enix has has issues since it added enix to the name. i have been wondering what the heck they did to some of there series since enix came along. i mean enix- was good at some games but they needed to stick to there guns and square to theres. since tthe merger there sequels have been less than majorly sucessful. lastest star ocean was weak, front mission 4 was kinda weak, final fantasy 11 got old due to its grind for leveling. valkyrie profile sequel seems kinda corny even though ive yet to play it. saga frontier got weak when introduced to ps2. i mean they need to get there stuff together. they are trying to blame it on sony and thats not all true. i hope they can pull though with some of these new franchises and make premium sequels, i mean where the heck is the american release of front mission online?

  • oddworld7

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 8:50 pm PT

    they want casual go with Nintendo. They want strong Western presence go with MS.

    I could care-less which side they take. Being multi-plat is a good thing

  • legandary_ACE

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 5:08 pm PT

    why is Square Enix so worried about the PS3's sale? they should know by now that their games will make the system sales go sky rocket.....just look at Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII on the PSP, its the #1 selling hendheld in japan right now because of that game

  • X_CAPCOM_X

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:54 pm PT

    Every xbox fanboy wants them to port FF13 and KH to the 360. Am I playing state the obvious?

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:30 pm PT

    Bring Final Fantasy XIII to the 360 and get Microsoft to publish it. Problem solved. Microsoft really know how to market games and generate big sales. Just look at the success of Gears and Halo 3.

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