Square Enix are looking into expanding the Final Fantasy series into other forms of media, while slimming down on game production to ensure higher quality games. Read on to learn more.
Square Enix’s Plans for the Future
Square Enix Exploring Final Fantasy Adaptations
Square Enix held a Financial Results Briefing session back in November 2023 and was only recently published in English on their official website. At the end of the briefing, Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu was asked multiple questions regarding the future of the company.
One topic brought to his attention was that other gaming companies have recently been adapting their gaming IPs for theatrical releases, or television series. He was asked what he thought of making similar adaptations to garner more fans for the IP. Kiryu stated that they are definitely being considered, and hoped that these kinds of initiatives can be sorted out in future business plans.
“We are open to a multifaceted approach to leveraging our IP and want to explore the possibility of cross-media adaptations of the FINAL FANTASY franchise as a means of further diversifying our sources of earnings. Be it FINAL FANTASY or one of our other franchises, we want to put them in front of a global audience representing diverse age demographics through whatever channels may allow for that. We hope to include specific initiatives of this sort in our forthcoming medium-term business plan.”
No doubt the success of other video game movies such as Super Mario Bros and Sonic have revitalized Square Enix’s interest into adapting their franchises to the big screen. However, this wouldn’t be their first foray into movie adaptations.
Square Enix's Previous Final Fantasy Movies
Square Enix infamously released Final Fantasy The Spirits Within back in 2001 to very mixed audience reception and big financial losses. During production, they were looking at the movie with high optimism, planning to have the movie’s lead character, Aki Ross, be the first photorealistic computer-animated actress. They wished to continue using her likeness and voice in multiple projects afterwards, be it in games or other films. (via Collider)
In 2005, Square Enix had their most successful game, Final Fantasy 7, adapted into a full-length digital movie that continued the game’s plot. Though the narrative wasn’t greatly received, most applauded its great visual effects and combat spectacles.
Lastly and most recently in 2016, to go along with the release of Final Fantasy XV, a tie-in movie was developed in hopes to capture more fan interest in the game which also served to expand the game’s story. The movie featured prominent Hollywood voice actors such as Aaron Paul, Sean Bean, and Lena Headey.
Square Enix Wants to "Slim Down" and "Diversify"
Kiryu was also asked what he thought the company “currently lack[s] but will need in order to achieve sustained growth?” He goes on to mention that he felt like the company’s portfolio, in terms of diversity, was limited, becoming “overly reliant on certain game styles or genres” from their established franchises in Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. He noticed that the gamers in the market “have diversified, and customers have come to enjoy content from a variety of genres.”
He then cited Powerwash Simulator, “a game well suited for casual play,” as an “outlier” in their portfolio that has seen continuous profit.
“I want to increase our development proficiency by strengthening our internal development capabilities so that we are able to achieve greater diversity in our title portfolio. I would also not rule out inorganic means as an option for strengthening our internal development capabilities.”
He acknowledged that Square Enix needs to strengthen its internal development teams and concentrate resources on newer, different games. “...rather than focusing solely on major titles, we want to also take on new challenges, partly because we want to add to the diversity of our portfolio of titles, as I noted earlier, while also enabling our developers to expand their skill sets.”
A recent unorthodox Square Enix-published game that has been making the rounds is Foamstars, a game that audiences strikingly see as Splatoon-like.
