Square Enix looks to make more of its games multiplatform

Square Enix is looking to make more of its game releases multiplatform, following a trend that has been catching on across the industry of late. In its latest earnings report published on May 13, Square Enix says it plans to “aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy” for future game releases. Square Enix is a storied publisher that has had releases on numerous consoles over the past 30 years.

Over time, however, many of the publisher’s largest franchise titles have routinely been locked to a particular console. The most recent examples of this are games like Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Both of which are still available exclusively on PS5. Final Fantasy VII: Remake, the predecessor to Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, launched as a PS4-exclusive title back in 2020, but then made its way to PC at the end of 2021. It has yet to make the jump to Xbox consoles or Nintendo’s popular Switch handheld.

This strategy of console exclusives, timed or otherwise, has led to less people getting to experience these games. This is something that Square Enix wants to avoid in the future, stating that it hopes multiplatform releases of its biggest titles will allow more people to enjoy them. It’s a strategy that both Microsoft and Sony have been exploring as well. Microsoft brought Hi-Fi Rush to PS5 earlier this year, and Sony is poised to launch the previously PlayStation-exclusive Ghost of Tsushima on PC this week.

More Square Enix games going multiplatform could be due to lower sales

Square Enix doesn’t state that low sales of some of its more recent titles are the motivation behind this decision to pursue multiplatform releases more heavily. However, as The Verge points out, the publisher’s most recent AAA release, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, may not have performed as well as Square Enix hoped.

This is in contrast to other games in the franchise. Such as Final Fantasy XV, which was released on Xbox and PlayStation simultaneously and went on to become one of the best-selling Final Fantasy games of all time. It would make sense then that Square Enix wants to boost revenue by bringing more games to more platforms. Without any sort of exclusivity. Square Enix is also looking to restructure its US and EU businesses by announcing upcoming layoffs.

Future Square Enix releases to include Xbox and Nintendo

It’s worth pointing out that both Xbox and Nintendo have games published by Square Enix. And not just older titles. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion released in 2022 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. This was alongside the PS4 and PS5 releases in addition to its Windows release. Other games like Nier Replicant and Outriders also launched on Xbox consoles at the same time as their PlayStation counterparts. As did Dragon Quest XI and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

However, Square Enix’s largest releases have remained outside of the Xbox and Nintendo ecosystems. Specifically, the larger mainline Final Fantasy titles mentioned above. The publisher doesn’t mention anything with regard to what will be making the jump or when.