Square Enix, the Japanese video game giant, is planning to shift its focus to creating fewer, higher-quality games in an effort to better compete in the increasingly polarized market.
This new strategy was highlighted by president Takashi Kiryu, who expressed concern about Square Enix’s excessive dependence on specific genres and franchises, namely Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. He emphasized the need to diversify their portfolio to satisfy the evolving tastes of customers.
“I want to structure our development function so that we are able to ensure higher quality from each title by slimming down our lineup,” Kiryu said
Kiryu believes that by focusing on fewer games, Square Enix will be able to pour more resources into each project, resulting in a higher overall quality.
This, in turn, will help the company attract and retain players in a market that is increasingly saturated with choice.
The shift in strategy is likely to have a significant impact on Square Enix’s release schedule.
The company has not yet said how many fewer games it plans to release, but Kiryu suggested the company wants to make bolder choices between blockbusters and indie experiences.
“The market is increasingly polarised between blockbuster and indie titles, but I feel that we have developed many titles that fall somewhere in the middle,” he said. “I want to make clearer distinctions going forward.”
What does that mean?
Pointing to internal weaknesses, Kiryu called for a shift towards meticulously choosing and crafting “high-quality” new titles, believing it’s the key to “strengthening the internal portion of [Square Enix’s] development function.”
It remains to be seen how Square Enix’s new strategy will play out. But a quality-over-quantity gamble may be a double-edged sword. While it promises better gems, smaller franchises could get buried, and innovation might take a backseat to safer, guaranteed sales.
