Square Enix sees an 6.6% drop for the past nine months as it pulls in $2bn

The publisher notes that its HD Games segment saw an 11.3% decrease despite launching multiple titles

News by Jeffrey Rousseau Staff Writer

Published on Feb. 3, 2023

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Final Fantasy maker Square Enix released its financial earnings from April 1 to December 31, 2022.

Here's what you need to know for the nine-month period:

The numbers

Net Sales: ¥255.6 billion ($1.9 billion), down 6.6% year-on-year
Profit: ¥46.3 billion ($353 million), up 16.3% year-on-year
Digital Entertainment net sales: ¥184.3 billion ($1.4 billion), down 13% year-on-year

HD Games

The HD Games subsection generated ¥58.1 billion ($444 million) in net sales, a decrease of 11.3% compared to last year.

The firm noted that the sector's revenue didn't reach last year's sales despite launching multiple games.

Square Enix's HD title launches during the nine period include:

Powerwash Simulator
Live A Live
Valkyrie Elysium
Star Ocean The Divine Force
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion

Mobile/PC Browser

Mobile/PC Browser games amassed ¥85.7 billion ($654.8 million), a decrease of 12.4% year-over-year.

Square Enix has highlighted a slate of 19 major titles for the segment.

However, it notes, "New titles were unable to offset weak performances from existing titles."

MMOs

During the period, MMOs made ¥40.5 billion ($309 million) in revenue, representing a decrease of 16% year-over-year.

While last year saw Final Fantasy XIV and Dragon Quest X receive new expansion packs, the firm said that new major content updates are planned, it added that it would make retaining MMO users a priority.

Additionally, the publisher's earnings revealed that it sold 16.43 million copies of both downloaded and packaged games during the nine months.

Downloaded games made up 11.48 million units of the figure, whereas disc-based titles sold 4.95 million units.

Looking ahead

Square Enix notes that it launched its newest JRPG, Forspoken, last month.

Meanwhile, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line and Octopath Traveler 2 are slated to release this February. Final Fantasy 16 is on pace to release on June 22, 2023.