The thing is, Square is seemingly aware of FF's decline and budgeting accordingly. I mean, Rebirth was developed in 3 years, which is very short for a AAA titlw.
That's what you get for exclusivity.
The issue is not whether it was good- I have no doubt it is good- but whether making it was an intelligent business decision- of which I have many doubts.
Which Platform in Japan would make it sell more retail physical copies?That's what you get for exclusivity.
The only answer that's fully viable is PS4.Which Platform in Japan would make it sell more retail physical copies?
Which Platform in Japan would make it sell more retail physical copies?
I honestly wouldn’t mind the graphical reductions. Most of the gaming market doesn’t really “get” visuals the way that gaffers do. For reference, I had a great time with Doom Eternal on the Switch Lite, and while I know it doesn’t look as good, it is at such a high level that I don’t care.Sure, but this couldn't run on Switch without massive reductions everywhere.
Japan's public might have lost good taste in games, but thankfully weebs worldwide picked up the slack, so they're still more successful than ever.
PlayStation 5 is irrelevant in Japan and likely active PC user-base now is bigger than the active PS5 audience in the country.
Where can I buy it lolSwitch 2
TBH we need to move on from last gen, its been almost 4 years.The only answer that's fully viable is PS4.
This generation and it being Finalfantasy7? No it hasn'tMonster Hunter is at least coming to PC, and I do think the franchise will be on Switch 2 in some form.
That's not a good metric to use, otherwise we would say every country isn't interested in non portable games.
Some non-portable games have done pretty well in Japan.
Final Fantasy has done noticeably more on smaller userbases.
For cross gen games, the PS4 versions are still noticeably increasing the number of sales in Japan.TBH we need to move on from last gen, its been almost 4 years.
Maybe a downscaled version now that the team has made there vision
That was my point, Final Fantasy sold more on smaller userbases in previous generations compared to this one. So userbase cant be the main reason for Rebirth's sales.This generation and it being Finalfantasy7? No it hasn't
The sad part is that people is getting used to the lowered expectation around the Final Fantasy brand.
With each generation the bar keeps getting lowered so if 25 years ago a mainline FF games breaking 3 million units in Japan was seen as the norm, nowadays the franchise can't even reach the 1 million barrier.
Making comparison with recent FF games, which themselves have severely contracted from FF games before, only serves to further drive the point of how ruinous FF fall of grace was in the last two decades.
The constant decline isn't caused just by the console userbase size of the platform(s) on which Square decide to develop the mainline FF games for.
The core issue is what Square is offering with FF isn't as enticing for the japanese consumers as in the past (meanwhile production costs keeps ballooning).
As a counterpoint Pokemon Scarlet/Violet is close to finally dethrone Pokemon Red/Green as the best selling RPG of all time in Japan, record which held for decades (the original Pokemon came out in February 1996).
Damn, I simply cannot fathom a regular commute that I partake in 5 days a week of 2 hours one way. Holy hell.Video games are on a decline. Many businesses here in Japan have switched back to 5 days a week attendance. With the long commute times (2 hours one way is very common), there is just not much time left to play games.
I am in the lucky situation that the company I work at keep the mostly remote work conditions, but that is not the norm.
Also considering the reviews, I am sure that Rebirth will catch up and surpass XVI over time.
At the end the worldwide numbers are what counts, as Japan will never be a big console markets due to the long commuting times and globally it will be a big hit.
The not a remake thing, turned me off. I won't buy rebirth.I know PS5 being unpopular in Japan plays a part in this, but I really do think we're underestimating how much potential damage they did by pulling the rug out from under people in Remake, by revealing this isn't actually a remake of FFVII. Love it or not, that did turn a lot of people off.
So far we're seeing a 440k difference between Remake and Rebirth in Japan. Ok the PS5 is less popular than PS4, but seriously, where the fuck did those 440k people go? Are they ALL people who just don't own a PS5? Because I believe if Remake landed with you, and you had a great time with it, you'd be making sure you'd have a PS5 to play the next part.
I did it for some time before I found work closer to home and which also allows for you to only come one or twice to work.Damn, I simply cannot fathom a regular commute that I partake in 5 days a week of 2 hours one way. Holy hell.
The reasons behind this downfall likely has to do with changing trends in the Japanese game market, the lack of availability of new Final Fantasy titles on other popular platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, and the declining interest in PlayStation hardware in Japan. Positive word of mouth may turn things around for sales of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in the weeks to come, but early signs from Japan aren’t promising.
Cloud, we truly are the final fantasy.Finally my fantasy of this series dying is almost becoming real, long live dragon quest and not this cringe poor mans jrpg series
They spent way too much money on it, it took way too long. The profit margin is probably infinitesimal. The risk is too great for such a reward. And now they are caught in a trap of producing increasingly expensive sequels for increasingly small returns.
They could have reduced the risk substantially if they had not released all those trash FF7 stories which cheapened the mystique of 7. No one walks away from that 7 movie liking Cloud more.
The story is 90’s gnostic fart huffing jank. We didn’t realize it in the 90’s, because it was text and we were young, but to quote Harrison Ford, “You can write this shit George, but you sure as hell can’t say it.”
They need to man up and crack pc/ xbox market.But there cheaper produced games sell waaaay less than their FF games. So I don't think just making cheaper produced games is the answer.
They're already on PC and the five copies they'd sell on Xbox wouldn't make a difference.They need to man up and crack pc/ xbox market.
No other way around for SE.
Cannot forever play in shadow of Sony, where they will do the marketing and help them grow the franchise.
They have some presence on PC. But players dont anticipate release of new Final Fantasy. They need to change that. In other words, they need to crack the market.They're already on PC and the five copies they'd sell on Xbox wouldn't make a difference.
I don’t think that matters.Well that much is obvious. It's still a remake of a beloved classic title with a familiar setting and cast, in addition to being a direct sequel to FFVII Remake. Compared to the clean slate that was FFXVI.
A Witcher 3 like game is way too easy for Square Enix to produce. They just need to cut the crap, go ham on music, art style and a varied map.Witcher 3 exploded the franchise selling way way way more than previous 2 games combined
Switch 2
They need to man up and crack pc/ xbox market.
No other way around for SE.
Cannot forever play in shadow of Sony, where they will do the marketing and help them grow the franchise.
rebirth is better than witcher 3 tho.A Witcher 3 like game is way too easy for Square Enix to produce. They just need to cut the crap, go ham on music, art style and a varied map.
No idea why they are making it harder than it needs to be.
Agree about Witcher 3.rebirth is better than witcher 3 tho.
witcher 3 is a slog
Xbox Series.Which Platform in Japan would make it sell more retail physical copies?
Pokemon though.If you're a third party publisher and want to hit big numbers, you multiplatform. That's it.
Let's call it one the few rare exceptions. XDPokemon though.
XV is so good. It is underrated and it has to grow on you but once it does, it's magicalJapanese appear to have taste.
I've yet to play FFXVI yet, but IMO FFXV is the greatest mainline FF game and one of the greatest RPS ever made. The FF series also gets better with every mainline entry, so I'm sure XVI is better than XV.
I was going to buy it this Easter holiday as a treat. I'm tempted to buy it now after this news.
Huh? How are going to tell me what reason matters for why I was more excitedI don’t think that matters.
Original was almost 30 years ago and rebirth is accessible to new players.
Witcher 3 exploded the franchise selling way way way more than previous 2 games combined
Shenmue 3 says “Halo!”.
It is a good thing that nostalgia train is finally going to derail. Industry have to move on beyond endless remakes.
Mainline Final Fantasy games started declining after the peak on PS1.
The real problem isn't matching the historical peak, it's that the decline was constant through time without any meanigful reversing of the trend.
Just check FFVII (PS1) -> FFX (PS2) -> FFXIII (PS3) -> FFXV (PS4) -> FFXVI (PS5) , it's a constant shrinkage of the sales even when factoring a generous digital ratio for the more recent entries.
Final Fantasy is hemoragging japanese buyers generation after generation to the point the franchise stopped being an assured million seller in Japan.
That's a first party publisherPokemon though.
Resident Evil 7 started slow due to the bad taste that 6 left in the fans' mouth. But now it's one of the biggest sales numbers, I think.The FFVII Remake project is probably nearing 10 million sales combined. How fucking crazy is that? And I don't mean that in a good way. A remake of one of the most legendary and iconic videos games ever made taking 4 years to reach 10 million sales, really shows how badly Square has mismanaged the Final Fantasy IP. They really fucked up. 10 years ago nobody would have ever dreamed a remake of FFVII wouldn't print money.
It's a shame because Rebirth is legit the best Final Fantasy game we've had in decades. But I don't think it's critical acclaim and good wom is going to help it. I'm sure the performance of XVI and Rebirth have spooked the shit out of Square.
Resident Evil 7 started slow due to the bad taste that 6 left in the fans' mouth. But now it's one of the biggest sales numbers, I think.
I believe that word of mouth will help. We need to see 1) Digital sales and 2) world sales.
RE7 sold like shit in Japan, week 1, physical. So, I wouldn't call Rebirth a flop just yet.
The Switch 2 won't be able to run this gameIt is to be expected with a small install base, the PS5 is too big, expensive and some still have the mental image of it being scare/low supply so they don't even look out for it.
The Switch 2 release will sell like crazy though.
They have some presence on PC. But players dont anticipate release of new Final Fantasy. They need to change that. In other words, they need to crack the market.
As for Xbox, if you get that market, some 15-20% sales will come from it. Its upto them if its enough. But when nobody knows your game on system or are not to their taste, then yeah, you will sell 5 copies.