Square Enix
| File:Square Enix.png | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software & Programming Books & Magazines (Japan only) |
| Founded | April 1, 2003 (merger of Square Co., Ltd. and Enix) |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Key people | Yasuhiro Fukushima, Honorary Chairman Yoichi Wada, President and CEO Keiji Honda, Executive Vice President |
| Products | Final Fantasy video game franchise Dragon Quest video game franchise |
| Revenue | $598.3M USD ( 227% FY '03 to '04) |
32,759,000,000 yen (2020)  | |
| 21,346,000,000 yen (2020) | |
| Total assets | 302,634,000,000 yen (2020) |
Number of employees | 2,706 (as of September 30, 2004) |
| Website | www.square-enix.com |
Square Enix (Japanese: スクウェア・エニックス Sukuuea Enikkusu) TYO: 9684 is a Japanese producer of video games and manga. Square Enix is best known for its computer role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series and the Dragon Quest series (previously known as Dragon Warrior in North America). Square Enix was formed as the result of a merger between Square Co., Ltd. and Enix that took effect as of April 1, 2003. Enix officially absorbed Square, with Square stockholders receiving 0.81 shares of stock in the new company compared to Enix stockholders receiving a one-to-one trade. Despite this, many top officials within Square assumed leadership roles in the new corporate hierarchy, including Square president Yoichi Wada, who was appointed president of the new corporation.
Corporate developments
Square Enix has regional operations, including Square Enix, Inc. (for all of North America) and Square Enix Ltd (for Europe and other areas that use the PAL-television standard). In July 2003, Square Enix relocated their headquarters to Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. In March 2004, Square Enix acquired UIEvolution, Inc. in order to strengthen its wireless market. On August 22, 2005, Square Enix announced their acquisition of Taito Corporation, renowned for their arcade hits, Space Invaders and the Bubble Bobble series. By September 28, 2005, Square Enix had wholly acquired Taito. In January 2005, the company expanded operations to Beijing, China by establishing Square Enix (China) Co., Ltd as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The company also has a controlling interest in Community Network Software Engine of Beijing, China which focuses on network middleware for gaming.
Properties
Computer and video games
By far, Square Enix's video gaming properties are its most valued assets. Square Enix's Dragon Quest franchise is considered the most popular game series in Japan, and each new installment of the series routinely breaks Japanese sales records. The Dragon Quest franchise has sold over 40 million units worldwide, with about 39 million from Japan. The Final Fantasy franchise, however, has been considered Square Enix's most important asset, and is the best selling Square Enix franchise worldwide, selling over 63 million units. [1]. More recently, Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts series (developed in collaboration with Disney's Buena Vista Games) has become massively popular worldwide, adding another valuable asset to the company.
In May 2004 Square Enix announced an agreement with Sony Online Entertainment for the Japanese publishing rights to EverQuest II. As of 2006, Square Enix has produced titles for the Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Microsoft Xbox 360 video game consoles, as well as for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS handheld game consoles. The company has announced titles for the upcoming PlayStation 3, and Wii consoles, as well as for the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable (PSP). In addition, they have published games for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers, and for various models of mobile phone. Square Enix mobile phone games are available on the Vodafone network in some European countries, including Britain, Spain, and France. Twenty five of Square Enix's video games were included in Famitsu magazine's top 100 games, seven being in the top ten list [2].
Square Enix game franchises
- Final Fantasy - from Square - established on the Famicom in 1987
- Dragon Quest - from Enix - established on the MSX in 1986
- Itadaki Street (Japan-only) - from Enix - established on the Famicom in 1988
- SaGa - from Square - established on the Game Boy in 1989
- Seiken Densetsu (Mana series of games outside Japan) - from Square - established on the Game Boy in 1991
- Chrono Trigger - from Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Front Mission - from Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Star Ocean - from Enix - established on the Super Famicom in 1997
- Drakengard - in development for Enix, but published in the Square Enix name - established on the PlayStation 2 in 2003
- Kingdom Hearts - from Square with Disney - established on the PlayStation 2 in 2002
Film
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a CGI-animation movie based on Squaresoft's successful PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII that is set two years after the events of the game.
Manga
The company also has a manga publishing division in Japan (from Enix) called Gangan Comics. It publishes manga for the Japanese market only. It also publishes a popular Japanese manga anthology called Monthly Shonen Gangan. Titles published by Gangan Comics include Papua, Spiral, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Also contains manga adaptations of diverse Enix, and later Square-Enix games, like Kingdom Hearts.
Fullmetal Alchemist was licensed for release in North America by Viz Media, while Kingdom Hearts and Spiral were licensed by Tokyopop.
References
- Yahoo! Finance company profile
- GameFAQs release listing
- IGN company profile
- TGS 2005: Square Enix Video Wall Presentation
External links
- Square Enix Global site
- PlayOnline Square Enix's portal for their online titles including Final Fantasy XI & Front Mission Online
- History of Enix and Square (official site)
- Financial details of Square Enix's acquisition of Taito