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Square Enix’s Wada Calls for New PS3 Marketing Approach

Yoichi Wada, president of Square Enix, has called for Sony to establish “an unwavering marketing strategy” for the PlayStation 3, with a series of implicit criticisms of the company’s marketing efforts and lack of focus on the console as a games machine.

David Jenkins, Blogger

September 7, 2007

1 Min Read
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Yoichi Wada, president of Japanese publisher and developer Square Enix, has called for Sony to establish “an unwavering marketing strategy” for the PlayStation 3 with a series of implicit criticisms of the company’s marketing efforts to date. As reported by the Reuters news agency, Wada told reporters that: “Sony first unveiled the PS3 as a mighty home electronics product. Then, after some badgering from game companies, it shifted the position of the console closer to a game machine.” "[The future of the PS3] would be tough if its marketing strategy is not straightened up," he added. Although a staunch supporter of Sony (which owns a 8.58 percent share in the company) during the PS one and PlayStation 2 era, Square Enix has, like most Japanese publishers, diversified its format support in the new generation. In particular, a warming of relations with Nintendo has seen more company titles released for Nintendo formats than at any time since the SNES era. Despite this, the PlayStation 3 still remains a focus of Square Enix’s business, with the core Final Fantasy series remaining one of the format’s most important third party exclusive franchises. Although Wada’s comments are likely to refer primarily to marketing in Japan, his unusually forthright public comments suggest unease with Sony’s approach.

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2007

About the Author

David Jenkins

Blogger

David Jenkins ([email protected]) is a freelance writer and journalist working in the UK. As well as being a regular news contributor to Gamasutra.com, he also writes for newsstand magazines Cube, Games TM and Edge, in addition to working for companies including BBC Worldwide, Disney, Amazon and Telewest.

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