Square Enix hunting for foreign partners

by Ross Miller { Sep 24th 2007 at 6:15PM }

Japan-based RPG powerhouse Square Enix is looking to improve its revenue stream overseas, and to do that the publisher is looking for a foreign partner for the US and Europe markets. Senior Vice President Michihiro Sasaki has told Financial Times that currently only 10 to 20 percent of the company's revenue is currently coming from overseas markets. "Within two to three years we want to make it half," he said.

If Square Enix is interested in increasing its overseas sales, the company will likely have to find partners adept at making non-RPG titles, as those tend to perform worse in US and Europe comparative to the Japanese market. The company is currently developing The Last Remnant, a game they dub as "for the world" and that they're planning for simultaneous release worldwide for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Sasaki also commented on the PlayStation 3's sales, stating that he was a "little worried" about its performance. He also praised Nintendo for expanding the industry's demographic.

Tags: michihirosasaki, squareenix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 24th 2007 6:35PM

wildangelslut22? LOLZ

Crummy @ Sep 24th 2007 6:48PM

I spotted the Flight of the Conchords reference!

Ross Miller @ Sep 24th 2007 7:06PM

Haha, yes you did. Now did you spot the Lair one?

Mr Khan @ Sep 24th 2007 7:10PM

I did

rTwelve @ Sep 24th 2007 7:06PM

Profit not guaranteed. They have only done this once before.

NekoMode @ Sep 24th 2007 8:18PM

Games for gaijin?

NO WAI!

NekoMode @ Sep 24th 2007 8:43PM

Games for gaijin?

NO WAI!

NintendoFanbot @ Sep 24th 2007 8:43PM

Nintendo of America, this is your next mission!

Go for it!

darklink (NDF - n00b ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:10AM

I wish lol

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 24th 2007 8:55PM

Square enix+2K Boston+2K Australia = Greatness.

nintendomaniac64 @ Sep 24th 2007 9:08PM

If square REALLY wants to make profit in western markets, maybe they should consider porting FFXIII to the 360.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 24th 2007 9:27PM

hey good idea!

nice to see that they actually are making a game for 360/ps3, maybe i'll check it out

IlyaG @ Sep 25th 2007 1:19PM

Yeah, seriously. The Wii may be the top console worldwide (mostly because if it's total domination in Japan), but in America, which is the biggest market for video games, the Xbox 360 has sold more console than the Wii and the PS3 COMBINED.

And here they are, releasing their biggest game exclusive on a console that the fewest people own -- by far.

It doesn't take a genius to realize that these Japanese companies are missing out on a lot of profits just because their executives are loyal to the colleagues in another company (Sony).