Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII: Breaking the Remake - Reboots, Remasters, and Remakes - Extra Credits

The gaming industry frequently revisits classic titles, employing three primary strategies: remasters, reboots, and remakes.

• The gaming industry categorizes title revisits into three distinct strategies: remasters (aesthetic updates), reboots (new narrative foundations), and remakes (modernized visuals and mechanics with original story retention).
• Final Fantasy VII Remake defies traditional definitions by functioning as a meta-textual narrative that diverges from the 1997 original's plot.
• Unlike a standard reboot, Final Fantasy VII Remake requires player familiarity with the original 1997 title to provide the necessary context for its narrative subversions.

2Q FY2021 Presentation Material: January to March 2021

CyberAgent experienced exceptional financial growth during the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, characterized by a 26.6% year-over-year increase in consolidated sales to 163.4 billion yen and a doubling of operating profit to 25.8 billion yen.

• CyberAgent’s consolidated sales grew 26.6% year-over-year to 163.4 billion yen in 2Q FY2021, with operating profit doubling to 25.8 billion yen.
• The Game business reached record quarterly sales of 63.9 billion yen, driven primarily by the launch of 'Uma Musume Pretty Derby,' which surpassed five million downloads in 45 days.
• Due to strong gaming performance, CyberAgent raised its full-year sales forecast to 600 billion yen and nearly doubled its projected operating profit range.

Square Enix Holdings 1-3Q FY2021/3 Financial Results Briefing

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial performance for the first three quarters of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, characterized by significant growth in its Digital Entertainment and Publication segments.

Square Enix Holdings Financial Results: Nine-Month Period Ended December 31, 2020

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial growth for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2020, characterized by significant increases in net sales and operating income compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.

• Square Enix reported a strong nine-month performance ending December 31, 2020, with net sales reaching 253.6 billion yen and operating income rising to 41.0 billion yen, a significant increase from 27.7 billion yen in the same period the previous year.
• The Digital Entertainment segment drove growth through major HD game releases like 'FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE' and 'Marvel's Avengers,' alongside strong performance in smart device and PC browser titles such as 'DRAGON QUEST WALK' and 'DRAGON QUEST TACT.'
• The Amusement segment suffered a sharp decline, recording an operating loss due to COVID-19-related facility closures through mid-June 2020, with quarterly net sales bottoming out at 4.6 billion yen in Q1 FY2021/3.

Square Enix Holdings 2Q FY2021/3 Financial Results Briefing

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial growth for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, driven primarily by robust performance in its Digital Entertainment segment.

Square Enix Holdings Financial Results: Six-Month Period Ended September 30, 2020

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial growth for the six-month period ending September 30, 2020, characterized by a significant increase in net sales and operating income despite the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Square Enix reported strong growth for the six-month period ending September 30, 2020, with net sales reaching 172.7 billion yen, a 52 billion yen increase compared to the same period in 2019.
• Operating income rose to 31.6 billion yen, representing an 18.3% operating margin, up from 13.2% in the previous year's first half.
• The Digital Entertainment segment drove performance, with games for smart devices and PC browsers seeing significant gains from titles including 'DRAGON QUEST WALK,' 'WAR OF THE VISIONS: FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS,' and 'DRAGON QUEST TACT.'

Square Enix Holdings 1Q FY2021/3 Financial Results Briefing

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial performance for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, driven primarily by robust growth in its Digital Entertainment segment.

Financial Results Briefing Session: Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial growth for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, driven primarily by the robust performance of its Digital Entertainment segment.

• Square Enix reported a significant year-on-year increase in Q1 FY2021/3 performance, with net sales rising to 87.0 billion yen and operating income reaching 24.5 billion yen, up from 53.3 billion yen and 7.1 billion yen respectively in the same period last year.
• The Digital Entertainment segment drove the majority of growth, with operating income surging to 26.0 billion yen, fueled by strong digital sales of 'FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE' and increased monthly subscribers for 'FINAL FANTASY XIV'.
• Total game units sold (discs and downloads) nearly doubled year-on-year, growing from 3.25 million units in Q1 FY2020/3 to 6.21 million units in Q1 FY2021/3.

Square Enix Holdings Consolidated Financial Results: Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020

Square Enix Holdings reported strong consolidated financial results for the three-month period ending June 30, 2020, characterized by significant year-over-year growth in net sales and operating income.

• Square Enix reported a significant surge in financial performance for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020, with net sales rising 63.2% year-on-year to ¥87,054 million and operating income jumping 241.4% to ¥24,549 million.
• The Digital Entertainment segment was the primary growth driver, achieving ¥74,363 million in net sales (up 100.1%) and ¥26,069 million in operating income (up 242.0%) due to strong digital sales and the performance of titles like 'FINAL FANTASY XIV', 'DRAGON QUEST WALK', and 'TRIALS OF MANA'.
• Profit attributable to owners of the parent reached ¥14,372 million, a 248.6% increase compared to the same period in 2019, despite an extraordinary loss of ¥2,226 million related to COVID-19-driven arcade closures.

Ubisoft & Square Enix E3 Press Conference | Games ReCAP Episode 004

Ubisoft maintains a robust and stable development model by leveraging established engines and iterative design across major franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy series.

• Ubisoft’s strategy of leveraging established engines and iterative design for franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry provides a stable production model that minimizes the volatility and mass layoffs seen elsewhere in the industry.
• A two-year development cadence is proposed as the optimal standard for major titles, allowing players sufficient time to master complex gameplay systems before the next iteration is released.
• Square Enix’s modernization efforts show inconsistent results, with the Final Fantasy VII Remake succeeding through real-time combat and high fidelity, while projects like the Avengers title and the Final Fantasy VIII remaster suffer from a lack of comprehensive overhauls.

Square Enix Holdings Consolidated Financial Results: Nine Month Period Ended December 31, 2009

Square Enix Holdings reported strong financial growth for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2009, driven by the successful release of major titles and the strategic acquisition of Eidos Ltd.

• Square Enix reported strong growth for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2009, with net sales reaching ¥135,431 million, a 30.9% increase over the previous year.
• Operating income rose significantly by 67.7% to ¥21,414 million, while net income grew 48.2% to ¥7,797 million compared to the same period in 2008.
• The Games segment was the primary growth driver, generating ¥72,972 million in sales—a 97.0% increase—fueled by major releases including 'DRAGON QUEST IX', 'Batman: Arkham Asylum', and 'FINAL FANTASY XIII'.

Square Enix Holdings Consolidated Financial Results: First-Half Period Ended September 30, 2009

Square Enix Holdings reported strong growth for the first-half period ended September 30, 2009, driven by significant organizational restructuring and the acquisition of Eidos Ltd.

• Square Enix reported a 33.2% increase in net sales to ¥90,561 million for the first half of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, though net income fell 55.7% to ¥2,683 million.
• The Games segment was the primary growth driver, with net sales rising 117.5% to ¥48,444 million and operating income increasing 63.5% to ¥10,365 million.
• The Amusement segment struggled, with net sales declining 20.5% to ¥25,853 million and operating income dropping 58.4% due to poor market conditions for arcade facility operations.