Square Enix Hints At Broader Format Support

Square Enix senior vice president Michihiro Sasaki has hinted that the company may spread its support more widely across formats, compared to the current and previous generations of console. Quoted by an article in the Wall Street Journal, Sasaki suggested that, “We don't want the PlayStation 3 to be the overwhelming loser, so we want to support them.” He added, "But we don't want them to be the overwhelming winner either, so we can't support them too much." The remarks suggest that Square Enix may now believe itself to be as important to the success of the PlayStation brand, in Japan at least, as the format is to the company’s profits. However, rather than placing itself in the role of kingmaker, Sasaki seems to suggest simply that the company will spread its range of titles more evenly amongst the competing formats. Thus far though the company has announced two major Final Fantasy titles for the PlayStation 3, with spin-off series Crystal Chronicles and Dragon Quest Swords for the Wii and only minor titles such as shoot ‘em-up Project Sylpheed for the Xbox 360. The intended formats for Dragon Quest IX and Kingdom Hearts III have not yet been announced, but if they are anything other than PlayStation 3 exclusives then it will indeed mark a significant change of policy for the company. However, it may be that Sasaki’s comments are aimed more immediately at the Nintendo DS, with the company recently ramping up its support for the format following the success of remake Final Fantasy III. The company recently announced a series of major new titles for the handheld, including Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, Chocobo to Mahou no Ehon, Subarashikiko no Sekai: It's a Wonderful World, Front Mission 1st, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana. Various Square Enix producers have also suggested that additional Final Fantasy remakes may also now be produced for the format.