The Nier series will keep going as long as its mask-headed creator Yoko Taro is breathing, producer Yosuke Saito has said - while tempering expectations for a sequel (or prequel, or something less obvious) to Nier: Automata to arrive anytime soon.
07.11.2023 - 12:33 / eurogamer.net / Square Enix
Square Enix has reported a drop in profits, despite a boost from sales of its most recent Final Fantasy games. However, 2024 is likely to be a stronger year by comparison.
According to its latest financial report from April to September 2023, company operating income has dropped by 33 percent and ordinary income by 42 percent.
That's despite an increase in sales for its HD Games, owing to the releases of Final Fantasy 16 and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters.
Indeed, net sales were up 5.3 percent compared to the same period last year, but the weakness of the Japanese yen has resulted in lower profits.
The company did not give an update on Final Fantasy 16 sales, though previously the company stated sales were «extremely strong», despite not being at the upper end of expectations.
More notably, net sales in the MMO segment fell compared to last year when sales overtook those of single player games.
However, context is important here. Latest expansion Endwalker was released in 2021 and was so popular the game had to be temporarily suspended from sale. Those sales continued into 2022.
With next expansion Dawntrail not due until 2024, a dip in sales for Final Fantasy 14 — the company's most profitable game — is expected for this year. Dawntrail's release in summer 2024 will give the next financial year a significant boost, as well as the game's release on Xbox consoles.
Square Enix also reported a decline in sales for mobile games despite the June launch of Dragon Quest Champions and September launch of Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, which «were unable to compensate for factors including weak performances by existing titles». Maybe all those microtransactions aren't quite working.
In all, net sales for games totalled 122m yen (up 4.2 percent), but operating income was 15.5m yen (down 36.9 percent). Total company net sales for the full financial year are still expected to increase by almost 5 percent compared to last year, but with 21.9 percent lower profits.
The release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on 29th February 2024 will likely boost sales at the end of this financial year. A PC release of Final Fantasy 16 (and DLC) is also expected at some point next year.
«Given the intense competition in both the consumer and smart device game markets, it will be important for the Group not only to leverage existing intellectual properties but also to endeavour to create new intellectual properties and to recruit development resources if it is to continue to produce hits,» reads the report, noting strong competition has players focus on a handful of major and familiar titles for both HD and mobile games.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be the company's next major release, which looks to be Remake supercharged.
The Nier series will keep going as long as its mask-headed creator Yoko Taro is breathing, producer Yosuke Saito has said - while tempering expectations for a sequel (or prequel, or something less obvious) to Nier: Automata to arrive anytime soon.
With blockbuster hit Nier: Automata approaching its seventh birthday, fans are wondering when they’ll get a sequel. It sounds like one is coming, but not any time soon.
Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, a remake of the classic RPG for mobile devices, is coming to PC. It’s available to wishlist now on Steam, with Square Enix stating that a release date will be announced “later.”
NieR: Automata easily ranks as one of Square Enix’s best (and most successful) games in recent years, but six years on from the game launch, there have been little to no indications that a full-fledged sequel is going to arrive anytime soon. What does that mean for the future of the franchise? Well, the people in charge of the series certainly have every intention to keep working on it.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake made it abundantly clear that Square Enix’s trilogy of FF7 remakes was going to have no qualms about deviating significantly from the original game’s storyline, but in the end, the trilogy is still going to link up with Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children, the animated CG movie set after the events of the original PS1 title.
Square Enix has released a five minute recap video of Final Fantasy 7 Remake ahead of the release of Rebirth.
Not a lot of things split gaming audiences the way the topic of level scaling does, but given the fact that there’s plenty of people who do enjoy what it brings to the table, having it as an option in a game can never really be a bad thing. Happily enough, Square Enix has confirmed that the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will indeed feature that option.
Square Enix has released a new video for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, this time around offering us a recap on the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake leading up to the upcoming sequel. The video, which you can check out below, can also be watched through the main menu of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth when the game comes to PS5 on February 29.
Square Enix has released new information and screenshots for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth detailing the characters of Kalm and Under Junon, playable character Red XIII, Synergy Abilities and Skills, the summon Kujata, Protorelics, materia development, Chocoboutiques, and combat styles and difficulty levels.
Final Fantasy 7's remake trilogy will ultimately link up with Advent Children, making the film part of the remake canon.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will let Cloud and co swim for the first time.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is looking like it’s going to expand on Final Fantasy 7 Remake in several ways, and one particular area of growth that has stood out in all that we’ve heard of the game so far is its open world setting. Previously described as a seamless map and a one-to-one recreation of the original game, what exactly can we expect from how it will be structured and the sort of content it will have on offer?