Square Enix LA looking into PSN development

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 20th 2008 at 11:30AM }

Square Enix recently opened a new studio in LA, one of their first major forays into Western development. The new studio will focus on digitally distributed games, according to GI.biz. "All formats – Xbox Live, WiiWare, PlayStation Network – are all viable formats for us," said Square Enix USA's John Yamamoto. "We started the in-house development team a couple of months ago and we're starting with downloadable content because the team is still small."

The new American studio is part of a drastic change at Square Enix; the new strategy is to embrace the Western market fully. "Japanese videogame software sales represent less than 15 per cent of the global market." In order to compete, Yamamoto reiterates that Square Enix will be focusing on multiplatform titles. "To maximise and spread our games to as many users as possible I think we have to go to multiformat – the Xbox 360, PS3 and also the PC as well."

Tags: square-enix, square-enix-la

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mwvdragon @ Nov 20th 2008 11:42AM

Sound's nice

lobotomies4free @ Nov 20th 2008 11:46AM

did they say WII?! I didn't think they'd ever put a real game on the system. Interested in what they come out with for any system though.

You guys think Square owning them will make it still feel like a Square product?

Jerses @ Nov 20th 2008 11:53AM

I hope it doesnt happen like the movie that make the studio in the US bankrupt :S

I hope its just a studio that...translate faster the game :P

Deathalo @ Nov 20th 2008 11:45AM

sounds likeKH3 might be multi platform =/
squares changed

gillyy0 @ Nov 20th 2008 4:07PM

Absolutely :[

koehler83 @ Nov 20th 2008 2:08PM

Last time Square made a game in the US we got Secret of Evermore. This was in a time when Square Japan was making games like Secret of Mana!

Now that crap like Last Remnant is considered a headlining title from Square Japan, I cant wait to see what kind of unimaginable trash comes from Square USA.

Ayrkain @ Nov 20th 2008 11:57AM

Square on a Playstation? Nah, it'll never happen. :P

Echnaton @ Nov 20th 2008 12:05PM

All that counts for SE is MONEY ... Scrooge Mac Duck ;-)

Ayrkain @ Nov 20th 2008 12:11PM

As they should be! I'm just a little irked by the fact that they don't seem to want my money via the PSN at the moment.

MATT @ Nov 20th 2008 11:59AM

DUH, Square.

Duh.

Josh @ Nov 20th 2008 12:11PM

Just bring FFVII to the PSN already. I had my hopes up that it would come out with the release of crisis core on the psp but no such luck. I want to play it again but would rather give 10-20 dollars to square for a digital copy over spending 50+ to a reseller on amazon.

jojoi29 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:57PM

Well, Square is officially dead. Good for them for going multi-platform, it will make them lots of money, as well as broadening their audiences.

Bad for us gamers looking for 1) Quality, 2) Creativity. So, in the end what matters to you? A stale industry, BUT you can get any system and get any game? Or a thriving, creativity leading industry, full of exclusives?