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Square Enix Performance Jumps Thanks To Mobile And MMO Expansions
It wasn’t that long ago that Square Enix had lost its financial way. The company is getting itself back on track, even in a quiet console quarter, thanks to strong performance in other segments.
The company reports year-over-year growth in net sales to ¥42.3 billion ($340.4 million, 12 percent increase), operating income to ¥7.9 billion ($63.7 million, 56 percent increase), and net income to ¥6 billion ($48.3 million, 76 percent increase). The company says that while new console game sales are down in the quarter, back catalog sales are up. Square Enix notes that digital for older titles has increased, though the company doesn’t specify by how much.
Mobile titles, including Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Schoolgirl Strikers, and Dragon Quest Monsters Super Light, continue to bring in significant revenue. Expansions for MMOs Final Fantasy XIV and Dragon Quest X also helped elevate the company’s performance.
Square Enix’s biggest months of the fiscal year are still ahead. Rise of the Tomb Raider, Just Cause 3, and Hitman, all have strong sales potential. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided may not arrive before the fiscal year closes on March 31, 2016, setting
[Source: Square Enix]
Our Take
While some core gamers revile the rise of mobile around the world, a fiscal quarter like this proves that diversity is crucial in the current environment. A Square Enix without a robust mobile division would be limping on weak new console game sales. While some players might not have interest in mobile gaming, it’s hard to deny their importance in keeping publishers afloat during slower console release periods.
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