Square Enix is reporting its most successful fiscal year ever, as Final Fantasy XIII and Batman: Arkham Asylum propelled the publisher to record sales and profit. The company is hoping to continue its success by strengthening its online gaming stature and tackling emerging gaming markets like China.
Square Enix reported its financial results for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, announcing that it had earned a record 27.8 million yen in profit (roughly $300 million). The company had previously notched highs of 26.2 billion yen and 25.9 billion yen during the 2005 and 2007 fiscal years, respectively. The driving force is the massive jump in game sales, which marked a 250 percent jump in income from 2009's fiscal year. Square Enix shattered its sales records, as the company sold over 26 million copies of its games, a figure that stands almost 10 million above its previous game sales record. With Final Fantasy XIII and Dragon Quest IX serving as the linchpins of Square Enix's success over the last year, the company is expecting slightly lower returns over the next 12 months, predicting 24 million yen in income for the year ending at the end of March 2011.
Even though the company had a banner year, Square Enix's report included a three-pronged plan to grow even further. First, the company plans to follow up its Eidos-led European expansion by extending its reach into new markets like China. Secondly, the launch of Final Fantasy XIV will serve as the catalyst for Square Enix's growth in the online space in the form of MMOS, online game and microtransaction sales, and an increased focus on community management. Finally, the company is hoping to create new franchises while continuing to leverage the 19 IPs currently in its stable (10 from Square Enix, five from Eidos, and four from Taito).
Source: Daily News from GamePro.com
Tuesday, May 18, 2010