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Square Enix Profit, Revenues Up As Company Looks Toward Final Fantasy XV
Square Enix has closed its most recent fiscal year with strong gains in revenue and profit thanks to Tomb Raider, Just Cause, and more. The company has a bright year ahead, with Final Fantasy XV and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided offering a boost from East and West.
Sales climbed by 27.5 percent to ¥214.1 billion ($1.97 billion) as profits jumped 102.3 percent to ¥19.9 billion ($183 million). In addition to sales of key franchises, Square Enix’s MMO offerings (Final Fantasy XIV and Dragon Quest X) continue to remain strong.
The current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2017, brings a number of games from the publisher’s Eastern and Western arms. From the former, Final Fantasy XV in September leads a slate that also includes World of Final Fantasy on PS4 and Vita, Kingdom Hearts HD II.8 Final Prologue on PS4, and the North American and European releases of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness and I am Setsuna.
On the Eastern front, Square Enix will release Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Rise of the Tomb Raider on PlayStation 4, additional Hitman chapters, and Hitman Go VR on Gear VR and Rift (out today). As expected, Kingdom Hearts III does not appear to be on the schedule to release in the current fiscal year.
Square Enix anticipates a strong year ahead, with sales expected to climb between 36 and 56 percent. However, the company is projecting modest changes in profit, walking the tightrope between a slight increase and slight decrease as compared to the most recently completed year come March 2017.
Correction: This story previously included an error regarding Square Enix's projected profits for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. This has been corrected, and we apologize for the error.
[Source: Square Enix]
Our Take
This is what a fully recovered Square Enix looks like. The company has two distinct profiles that complement one another, offering different experiences that play to the strengths of each studio. It’s been fascinating to watch this model become fully realized over the past three years. And now that it has, Square Enix both has the diversification and talent to remain strong.
And as for Rise of the Tomb Raider timed exclusivity on Xbox One, clearly it did not have the negative financial impact some expected. Though, we won't have a full grasp of how the game stacks up in terms of sales until the PS4 version launches.
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