With recent news that threeSquare Enixstudios are being purchased by Embracer Group, there has been speculation about the future of the company itself. Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix Montreal, andGuardians of the Galaxydeveloper Eidos Montrealare all set to see a change in ownership, and though Square Enix is still an entity all its own, it wouldn’t be a reach to think this news could be a sign of things to come. Should the company find a new home, there are two obvious candidates that could benefit from its services.
Microsoft and Sony haven’t been shy in buying huge companies and developers, from the former’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard to the latter’s Bungie purchase. Such studios were seemingly so big that any company making a bid for each would have been a shock, but the news earlier this year confirmed that both Xbox and PlayStation have more influence than many believed.Square Enix’s impact on gaming has been huge, and its success spans multiple console generations. Should the company become available, the two hardware leaders would likely be first in line.
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Square’s Sony Success
Final Fantasy 7is one of the finest role-playing games of all time. It gained significant popularity in the west, and not only kick-started the franchise’s golden years, but also began a relationship with Sony and the PlayStation that carried the series into the 3D, polygonal era and beyond. Its predecessor as well as the other five mainline entries were all released on Nintendo systems, but with the ambitious nature ofFF7, the PlayStation was the only home console that could match Square Enix' lofty goals for the project. Since then, everyFinal Fantasygame has released on a Sony system, and with the developer’s crowning achievement being so closely linked to the success of Sony’s hardware, it would be a no-brainer that should Square Enix go on sale, Sony would express interest.
Even recently, the State of Play event that took place in March wasdominated by Square Enix properties. FromThe DioField ChronicletoValkyrie Elysium, the publisher’s presence was felt more than any other, even with the absence of Sony-exclusiveFinal Fantasy 16. The relationship is stronger than ever, it seems, and so it would make sense that Sony would be a front-runner should theFinal FantasyandDragon Questdeveloper become available for purchase.
Xbox' Unpredictable Nature
Though many believe that Sony’s history with Square Enix puts it in prime position to acquire the company, Xbox has been more than happy to surprise folks with its acquisitions in recent years. FromPsychonautsdeveloper Double Fineto industry titan Bethesda, Microsoft’s first party has grown massively since the launch of the Xbox One. Square Enix could fit into its ever-growing list of owned developers beautifully, while also being a not-so-subtle jab at hardware rival Sony. Pairing the JRPG prowess of Square Enix with the western role-playing heavyweight Bethesda would give Microsoft a firm grip on the RPG genre for future generations.
Should Xbox pursue Square Enix, it wouldn’t be the first time that a Sony-centric franchise likeFinal Fantasywas available on Microsoft’s platform first. In 2015, the much anticipatedRise of the Tomb Raider,sequel to 2013’s multi-platformTomb Raider, released exclusively on Xbox One. It tookalmost a year for Lara Croft’s next adventure to arrive on PlayStation 4, which was a shock to fans as the character has always been one of PlayStation’s greatest. As such, Xbox acquiring Square Enix,Tomb Raider’sparent company until recently, wouldn’t be a huge leap despite Sony’s history with the developer.
Critically, the company that should purchase Square Enix is the one that best understands what it does well, and that can nurture its talent to continue to produce high quality games. The obvious answer would be Sony, as it has had a profitable relationship with the Shinjuku-based outfit for years, andFinal Fantasyfound a stable home on the PlayStation from the PS1 through to now.Sony has always been the preferred system for JRPGs, a genre in which Square Enix has been a pioneer for, and making a move to Xbox would be a disappointment to so many that bought a PS5 with the assumption that it would be the best system for Japanese role-playing titles. But, as time has proven, Xbox has been all too happy to shock fans.
