2020 held mixed fortunes for Square Enix. Whilst Switch users received some enjoyable experiences with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory and Trials of Mana, they had a rocky time with Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition. On rival platforms, Marvel's Avengers became a cause for concern after notably missing sales expectations.
Despite these issues, the Japanese publisher is still reporting strong financial results, as confirmed by Famitsu. With its latest financial report covering April 2020 to December 2020, it has revealed a 33% increase in sales.
Mostly, that comes down to games which skipped Nintendo platforms, crediting Final Fantasy VII Remake's highly anticipated launch and Marvel's Avengers, despite the latter's initial problems. Mobile gaming was also highlighted as a success, with Square Enix pointing towards their numerous Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest spin-offs.
Elsewhere, Square Enix's back catalogue has continued providing, and that's especially true for MMOs. Thanks to their subscription-based models, Final Fantasy XIV and Japan-only Switch game Dragon Quest X continue bringing in revenue thanks to recent expansions, despite facing a decrease in net sales.
As a result, it doesn't appear that Switch games played a significant factor, but Square Enix remains committed to Nintendo's console. With Bravely Default II launching in three weeks, Balan Wonderworld in March and Neo: The World Ends with You later this year, the industry veteran isn't going anywhere just yet.
Are the sales figures what you expected? Surprised the Switch didn't factor in more? Let us know down below.
[source gamesindustry.biz, via famitsu.com]
Comments 44
I want to know the sales of Dragon Quest Builders 2 on PS4 and Switch.
I'm still not sure what the logic is behind keeping FFs I-VI off the Switch. I get not having them in the Virtual Console, but selling them individually, or in a collection, would definitely rake is so much extra cash.
If they fix FF:CC, it may sell better.
@Godzil No no no. More bad is better than less good. That's the message here.
Dragon Quest collection for Switch, PS5 and Xbox and you'll be rich Square
the remaster of Crystal Chronicles is such a disaster. Remove the local co-op aspect of it, butcher the online implementation of the co-op, and, just for the heck of it, sell a whole bunch of worthless overpriced DLC items and costumes. It's one of the few modern remasters that is just straight-up worse than the original in almost every way - even if the original required you to have four GBAs and four GBA link cables to play, at least it worked great and was fun.
I figured they would have at least ported Final Fantasy III and IV over to Switch by now since they it was already ported to Android. Same with the remaining DQ games. It might not rake in huge sales but there are people like me that want to play them without suffering with mobile controls or buying retro consoles.
@Darknyht you can... just buy a cheap controller for android..
I would be all over: FF 4 (with the extra content from all the diff versions) and 6 (with extra character from GBA) if they release on Switch.
I would also take DQ 4-9
Patiently waiting for Tomb Raider.
A remake, a remaster and a rhythm game. I can see why the Switch didn’t really do the numbers for Square Enix.
Now bring a new DQ or FF game to switch please . Or new or ports of Tomb Raider, Chrono Trigger, Just Cause, Kingdom Hearts (main series), or more of the older rpg series such as Ogre, Star Ocean or other mana games. Then we can talk numbers.
Remake FF6 with octopath art style>Go to bank
DQ 1-3 are available on Switch for $23.97 total
So DQ 4-9 for $60 total seems reasonable.
FF 7-9 are each $20. FF 10 and 12 have been $20 plenty of times physical. FF 4 and 6 for $20 each or $40 physical seems like a good deal to me!
@Crockin I’d say remake FF6 and Chrono Trigger with Octopath Style graphics. And why not throw FFIV and FFV as well?
@Desrever @Isaix The Mana and SaGa Collections on Switch, to my mind, heavily imply forthcoming FF and DQ re-releases. Isn't this year the 35th anniversary of Dragon Quest?
If Dragon Quest X is so profitable, then give it to us in the West and let us give you even more money!
FF 1-3 ,FF 4-6, DQ 4-6 collections easy money.
Final Fantasy VII Remake was probably the big thing that saved them from absolutely tanking this year amidst all the losses they suffered from Avengers
Deservedly too. I loved FFVII but Avengers was basically a worse Ultimate Aliance
@Darknyht If they port games like FFV and VI to platforms like PS4 and Switch I hope to Kefka that they're not based on the mobile/Steam versions. The sprite art and UI are absolutely hideous unless you mod it on PC with presentation/graphical fixes
Even though I'd love to see DQIV-VI being ported to Switch, I can't help but fear that they'll port the super famicom versions rather than the already existing DS ones. I hope I'm wrong but this seems to have been the trend with the latest rereleases of games like SaGa and Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon. I get that this gets to go on because people actually buy these games but please.
Um, I would gladly pay for DQ X here in the US. I'm sure I'm not alone. Seems like they're leaving money on the table by not offering it to the west.
@Friendly
Yes, I forgot all about Kingdom Hearts for a sec
I don't expect 3, but "The Story so Far" would be awesome!
Chrono Trigger would also be very welcome.
As well as Tactic Ogre: Knights of Lodis!
@Friendly Louis!
Oh and completely unrelated, but after seeing your avatar
I love FE7!
I can imagine a trilogy:
FE7, then FE6 and a new game or DLC that takes place before FE7, where we see all the heroes and Nergal during the Scouring.
Well I give them money soon for Densha de Go! In march for Switch. Can't wait to be honest.
FF:CC is just bad and Trials of Mana was good BUT, if you waited like a month it already started dropping in price. KHMM launched late in the year so probably modest sales so far.
SE is one of my favourite developers but you have to be honest and say their Switch offerings in 2020 were limited. Let's hope they have a much more successful 2021.
Also....It's Dragon Quest 35th anniversary this year. Pump out some remakes/collections and people will buy them like crazy.
@Desrever It seems infinitely logical, no? Same with Capcom refusing to port Disney Afternoon Collection to Switch, you know, a collection of games that started life on Nintendo consoles and is basically taylor made to be on Switch. Same with Final Fantasy. What’s the logic in NOT porting games to Switch that ALREADY exist?
I’m concerned that Avengers sales numbers will further the thought that consumers don’t want comic games and go back to lego all the time again. Rather than seeing making it a live service looter is not what people wanted/expected.
I do hope Squeenix digs into its back catalog and releases more classics. DQ 3-6 for instance. (I would like 7-9 but I feel like that is asking too much.)
Well, I was browsing Square on Android and it appears in my region that they increased the cost of premium games by 5 dollars. Was disappointed bc I wanted Valkyrie Profile, but not at an inflated price.
@Ks123 To be fair to Capcom, they might not be able to port the Disney Afternoon Collection to the Switch unless Disney allows it.
Given Capcom has put their other collections on the Switch, I am willing to bet that either Disney is refusing a port, or is charging a higher license fee for a potential Switch port then what was negotiated for the initial PS4 and Xbox One versions.
After all those years of hype, it feels like the FFVll remake came and went. It felt like the original was talked about loooooong after its release. I know it was revolutionary for its time, but I was expecting the same amount of talk for the remake. 🤷🏾♂️
@outsider83 that’s a fair viewpoint that I hadn’t thought of and makes sense to explain the lack of Switch port.
It still seems like large piles of Scrooge McDuck money left on the table that Disney & Capcom can’t figure out a financially beneficial way to make this happen. I paid full price for the Lion King/Aladdin physical collection (whether that makes me crazy is another topic) and I’d do the same for a Dis Afternoon Collection. But what do I know 🤷♂️
@Miyamotosan @delt75
Yeah especially since it has been out since the Wii. That's, what, 8 years of missed revenue?
@outsider83 I mean, it kind of quietly released between 2 of the most popular games ever(ACNH+TLOU2). There is a good amount of negative online feedback that keeps games in the conversation for longer than few months, and honestly FF7R was by most accounts pretty great. It will never be seen as groundbreaking as original obviously, but i can't think of a remake that would achieve that.
Wondering if Microsoft are buying Square Enix. I don't mind if it happens because under Phil Spencer Microsoft has shown itself to be great for game studios. That's particularly since game pass launched and got big as it enables all kinds of niche games to succeed more which is good for developers as it gives them more creative freedom.
@Donnerkebab I wonder if we have finally hit super hero fatigue. For me personally I’m just exhausted with Marvell stuff but maybe I am the exception. That said it’s hard not to love some specific characters like Spider-Man.
@outsider83 Yeah even the idea of a FF7 remake had a lot of mystique and build up dating back to the mid-late 2000's. With SE calling it their secret weapon.
Maybe setting all of part 1 in midgar was a mistake because a lot of the games mysteries and discussed theories centre around things that happen or are revealed after Midgar.
@Dr_Lugae @outsider83 I'd be on the forums talking about FFVIIR more, but the things I'd be talking about would be huge spoilers. Can't wait for part 2, I had high expectations going in, and they absolutely nailed it. Best battle system in a Final Fantasy game since X-2, and the care and detail put into Midgar was fantastic.
Two really minor quibbles from stopping it being perfect. The section leading up to the 2nd bombing mission is just too long, and the NPCs look a bit bland in their designs compared to the original.
I'd love to try DQ X, though at this point I think a Western release is only a pipe dream.
Looking forward to Bravely Default II and Neo: The World Ends With You later this year.
Glad they lost money on Marvel Avengers. Full priced game full of micotransactions. They can go and f*ck themselves.
I honestly thought they'd attribute it to Argos selling through 3DS game stock for £3. Bravely default 2 has never sold so quickly.
@diwdiws no thanks. Mobile isn’t something I enjoy gaming on unless I have no better option, and definitely not on anything Google produces. Their security record on Android is sketchy (partially mobile companies and shady manufacturers fault) and I prefer not to be a “product” as much as possible. If I am desperate to play, I can purchase the Steam version.
@TheFrenchiestFry Unfortunately that is the version we will probably get unless it is a collection or ROMs. Just look at the horrible mobile ports of DQ 1-3, and the released FF on switch. I am pretty sure they are mostly the mobile versions.
@Crockin
No.
Final Fantasy VI as it was made or nothing. And NONE of the rubbish FMV that came in the Playstation release.
@Godzil relax old man
a lot of Square Enix games sell pretty well on switch
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