The answer to Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox is apparently strong enough to prompt Square Enix to consider a more balanced cross-platform approach.
Talking to EurogamerProducer Naoki Yoshida said that the MMO's arrival on Xbox Series X|S in March has had a “pretty good” response. With communities growing on the platform, the publisher is looking to “further deepen” its relationship with Xbox.
“We are now moving toward a policy of releasing our games on a multi-platform basis,” Yoshida said. “We want to release more Square Enix games on Xbox, and there will be more of our own titles released on Xbox. I hope players will look forward to future things coming to the platform.”
His comments are based on similar ones made by CEO Takashi Kiryu at the end of July, shortly after The Octopath Traveler II console release; Kiryu stated that he will release games on Xbox “when possible.”
Square Enix and Xbox need each other
Last year, accidentally leaked documents from Microsoft revealed that it had been considering Square Enix Acquisition in 2019. At the time, the latter's presence on the mobile market was a huge draw for the Xbox maker, even if it ultimately didn't follow through on those goals.
Instead, it opted to bring several Square Enix games to Xbox Game Pass after their initial release. Meanwhile, fellow Japanese developers Capcom and Sega have added games to the service, some as day-one titles.
Yoshida acknowledged that Xbox is less popular in the country than PlayStation and Nintendo. But while it is “really tough” from a business standpoint, it is equally tough to lose a share of the market with console-exclusive titles.
As Square Enix said in MayThe goal is to create “unforgettable experiences,” and that means making sure all players can experience its games whenever possible.
