Support NeoGAF

[Fabieter]

Monolithsoft was created when Square didn't want to do Xenogears 2 (or whatever it would be called; Xenogears is actually part 5).

No one uses microsoft store, so MS isn't getting money from that.

We had people saying the steam numbers are "low" because so many people are on pc gamepass. What is it? It seems it depends on what topic. Ms said that pc gamepass is growing significantly more than xbox gamepass. So yea saying ms is last place in console business while dismissing pc is shortsighted to excuse them buying up the industry.

 

[Arsic]

I'm nearing the end of 16 this week and I find the game fantastic but with a good chunk of flaws. All things FF17 could easily fix.

There's still so many ways they can approach how to make the franchise super relevant like it once was. Everyone has a theory . "Make it turn based again." "Go back to FF12s Ivalice." "Do this do that"

If I were them I'd invest in 3 new franchises but tell each team whoever makes the best game will get the chance to then do FF17 with their game as a base. Let them take creative risks on a smaller budget scale. Take a FF16 budget and split it 3 ways. This could lead to the spark being found.

I personally would like to see them make a FF where I can make my own lead character like in FF15s character creator. Then learn from games like BG3 on creative quests with weight to them. Throw in combat that melds something like sea of stars with FF7 remake, and for the love of god give us a hard mode from the jump. Give us visually changing gear like FF stranger of paradise. Lastly, learn that the game story, world, and lore cannot keep being dumped into books to read in game. Make it work straight up. Also, yes, people like to play as other characters from the team.

That's just one set of ideas. I think a team like monolith with SE money would bring the franchise back to expectations for fans and the money guys .

 

[Spyxos]

It is not available on PC. Did they announce it for PC, is there any release date?

I have meant their other games. And 16 will certainly cost 80 as well.

 

[Dream-Knife]

We had people saying the steam numbers are "low" because so many people are on pc gamepass. What is it? It seems it depends on what topic. Ms said that pc gamepass is growing significantly more than xbox gamepass. So yea saying ms is last place in console business while dismissing pc is shortsighted to excuse them buying up the industry.

I don't know a single person who uses pc game pass, but who knows.

Things I worry about is MS taking over Steam, and Apple destroying the market with their digital concentration camp. Games being played on windows isn't really propelling microsoft to a monopoly.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Monolithsoft was created when Square didn't want to do Xenogears 2 (or whatever it would be called; Xenogears is actually part 5).

It's a bit more complicated then that. Xenogears originally was going to be FF7 and at the time they had 2 pitches. FF7 as we know it and Xenogears. Square wanted to fund FF more then Xenogears so Takahashi packed up shop went to Namco and we got Xenosaga, then after Xenosaga 3 the same thing basically happened and now we have Xenoblade.

 

[Dream-Knife]

It's a bit more complicated then that. Xenogears originally was going to be FF7 and at the time they had 2 pitches. FF7 as we know it and Xenogears. Square wanted to fund FF more then Xenogears so Takahashi packed up shop went to Namco and we got Xenosaga, then after Xenosaga 3 the same thing basically happened and now we have Xenoblade.

No. Xenogears was proposed as either a sequel to Chrono Trigger or as FF7. It was viewed as too dark to be FF7, and the chrono trigger thing fell through (this is why Lucia is in the village). Xenogears released and square didn't want to go further, so they left to form Motholithsoft.

Xenosaga was supposed to be 6 games but it was cut to just 3. Sales were poor and Bamco ended up selling the company to Nintendo.

Xenoblade 1 wasn't supposed to be a Xeno game, it was named that in Takahashi's honor for his past work.

Xenoblade 2 is really the only modern Xeno game.

 

[Klosshufvud]

SE is so deluded and out of touch. They think the FF brand is gold and they think whatever they shit out will just be loved by the masses. The red flags for FF16 were there years before launch. It simply wasn't garnering any attention with the oldschool fans. In fact, in every interview, the producers were more interested in talking about how the game appeals to non-FF fans first and foremost. Underwhelming visual presentation, in combination with a story that didn't seem that intriguing in trailers in combination with seemingly spammy solo player gameplay just turned people off I guess. Can't blame them. Personally I lost interest when I saw the game was running 720p in performance mode.

 

[Fabieter]

I don't know a single person who uses pc game pass, but who knows.

Things I worry about is MS taking over Steam, and Apple destroying the market with their digital concentration camp. Games being played on windows isn't really propelling microsoft to a monopoly.

We have ms officially state that pc gamepass is growing faster than console numbers. We can't handpicked what we believe from phil and Co. If he isn't lying and why would he in this case than regulators should absolutely put pc into the mix somehow. It's stupid to just look into consoles in this case.

 

[TGO]

Even Krafton laughed when they saw SE sales expectations

 

[Sub_Level]

FFVIII is damn hard dude what are you saying?

I beat like three times. Do you even beat the missions in that game?

Wat. FFVIII might be the easiest one lol I and besides I didnt even mention it. You can abise junctions and refinement. I agree FFXVI is waaaay too easy (along with many other flaws) but unfortunately that flaw is present in many FF games. I would recommend playing New Threat mod for FFVII, its glorious!

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

They really screwed themselves over, because they HAVE to finish it now that they started... And part 1 didnt sell as well as they had hoped.

Imagine if they got part 2 out but not part 3; the FF version of HL3.

Squeenix has been on extremely poor footing for a very, very long time. Well over a decade - probably closer to two.

Well, there is a real chance of not getting a part 3. Like, realistically, when P3 is supposed to launch? In 2028?

 

[Kakax11]

Bring back Wada

 

[Dream-Knife]

We have ms officially state that pc gamepass is growing faster than console numbers. We can't handpicked what we believe from phil and Co. If he isn't lying and why would he in this case than regulators should absolutely put pc into the mix somehow. It's stupid to just look into consoles in this case.

And how fast is console gamepass growing?

Of course MS would paint anything in a good light for their investors.

MS is failing gaming and their only hope is to make Azure the only place for gaming. That is failing.

 

[Fabieter]

And how fast is console gamepass growing?

Of course MS would paint anything in a good light for their investors.

MS is failing gaming and their only hope is to make Azure the only place for gaming. That is failing.

While I disagree than we should stop with the excuses if the game is falling short on steam that gamepass pc is doing numbers for them like everyone did the last few years. ( well I still thinks it's kinda big and regulators should take notes) but you can't have it both ways really.

 

[yurinka]

We have ms officially state that pc gamepass is growing faster than console numbers.

And how fast is console gamepass growing?

As a whole -not console or PC only- Gamepass did stop growing, got stuck on 25M during some time and then MS stopped reporting its subs numbers. Which probably means it continues stuck or decreased.

Some time later they did remove the shortcuts to get GP way cheaper and increased the prices. Pretty likely to increase revenue at the cost of some subbers that weren't paying very little or almost anything.

At the end what counts for them is revenue and profitability. The amount of subbers is only an ego thing.

Of course MS would paint anything in a good light for their investors.

MS is failing gaming and their only hope is to make Azure the only place for gaming. That is failing.

They also tried to artificially bloat the Azure numbers via GPU's cloud gaming, but according to MS almost nobody is interested on cloud gaming.

So maybe with the recent pricing changes they wanted to get rid of these artificial numbers to focus on users who really pay their full subs.

They really screwed themselves over, because they HAVE to finish it now that they started... And part 1 didnt sell as well as they had hoped.

Well, there is a real chance of not getting a part 3. Like, realistically, when P3 is supposed to launch? In 2028?

FFVR part 1 had great launch window sales, it was back then the fastest selling PS4 exclusive. That's all we know. As usual pretty likely they had too high expectations, but the game performed very well and continued to work in the 2nd one. There's a lot of hype for the sequel, which is almost here, which pretty likely will perform well too.

So yes, they'll obviously release the 3rd one. Nothing leads to think there won't be a 3rd one.

FFVR1 released in April 2020, 2 will release early 2024 and I assume that 3 will release in 2028, yes. Pretty likely as a crossgen PS5/PS6 game.

 

[Azelover]

That's a pretty big drop. I think they should bring Sakaguchi back.

 

[Gambit2483]

I guess now we know why Ever Crisis is half game, half casino...

Hopefully FF7 Rebirth performs beyond expectations.

 

[hyperbertha]

Looks like final button mashing 16 didn't perform as much as they would have liked.

 

[K2D]

Final Flop XVI

Here

That's the aftermath of those 7 Forspoken and 33 FF16 copies they could have sold on Xbox.

We

The game sucked

Go

They'll be looking for Phil's cheque book to help out too.

Again

Oh noes, i hope the development or the remilk part 2 is not in danger because of that...

...

FF16 was a turd

 

[Tomeru]

Square Enix and inept decisions and expectations?

Name more iconic duo.

Microsoft

Edit:
And inept decisions and expectation obviously.

 

[iQuasarLV]

Sorry, but FF16 combat is shallow for too long. My friend and I put in a serious weekend and just were burned out on the game by the time the mechanics showed up.

For a game that was marketing on how it was modernizing for a new generation of gamers they took a solid IBS shit streak on the bed. /rant

As for the stock SE was banking on two things this year, NFTs and FF16. Neither is getting a ROI so they're screwed convincing investors to invest in anything but FF14 which SE is reluctantly admitting is making more money than anything else they are developing.

 

[VideoGameEnjoyer]

I'm not even a FF guy, have hardly played the series. Even I was disappointed with the direction they took with 16. With how on rails, and not an RPG it was.

 

[Crayon]

Sounds like someone there has a bad habit of over promising.

 

[VitoNotVito]

Their market cap is $4.4B.
Pocket money.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Sorry, but FF16 combat is shallow for too long. My friend and I put in a serious weekend and just were burned out on the game by the time the mechanics showed up.

For a game that was marketing on how it was modernizing for a new generation of gamers they took a solid IBS shit streak on the bed. /rant

As for the stock SE was banking on two things this year, NFTs and FF16. Neither is getting a ROI so they're screwed convincing investors to invest in anything but FF14 which SE is reluctantly admitting is making more money than anything else they are developing.

FF16 is what Square thinks us westerners want from a RPG. It's condescending. What we really want from an RPG is Baldur's Gate 3.

 

[Elder Legend]

Looks like rofif didn't shill enough for Forspoken. Come on man, I thought this game was amazing? Square probably ran out of money to bribe their Forspoken fans.

On a serious note - I don't get why Sony still hasn't bought them yet.

 

[F31 Leopard]

Square Enix should sell the Xenogears IP to Nintendo so Monolith Soft can have it back.

 

[HawarMiran]

Here

We

Go

Again

...

I didn't like it. Problem with that?

 

[Salty Popsicle]

It seems this backroom partnership with Sony that sees many Final Fantasy games become exclusive to PlayStation is a bad mistake for Square Enix. Their games continually miss sales targets, Square Enix stock plummets (seems to happen every generation), and Sony drops a bag of money to make next Final Fantasy installment exclusive. A destructive cycle.

 

[Gambit2483]

Square Enix should sell the Xenogears IP to Nintendo so Monolith Soft can have it back.

Yea, I just don't see SE selling any Japanese IP...ever.

They only sold IP in the past because it was "western dog crap" that they couldn't profit off of like they wanted.

 

[Puscifer]

Square Enix and inept decisions and expectations?

Name more iconic duo.

That company is living on goodwill from Final Fantasy fans and Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy 7* fans


The following around that game is fucking cult like, when there's other FF games after are just as good people will still find a way to say it doesn't compare to it, even though 6 is arguably worth a remake more than 7 to bring it to new audiences

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Looking forward to regulators forcing Sony to keep all SE games multiplatform going forward as a purchase condition

All Square-Enix games together released each year don't even bring like 10% of COD's yearly revenue, lmao.
It's not even comparable.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Square Enix should sell the Xenogears IP to Nintendo so Monolith Soft can have it back.

And Namco should sell Xenosaga.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

EDIT: I assumed OP linked the Bloomberg article, but it's VGC. VGC's okay.

 

[Fake]

Wat. FFVIII might be the easiest one lol I and besides I didnt even mention it. You can abise junctions and refinement. I agree FFXVI is waaaay too easy (along with many other flaws) but unfortunately that flaw is present in many FF games. I would recommend playing New Threat mod for FFVII, its glorious!

I talking about FFXIII. Sry I not made that clear.

 

[BennyBlanco]

It is not available on PC. Did they announce it for PC, is there any release date?

 

[Serge85]

Here

We

Go

Again

...

FF XVI is trash.

 

[Spukc]

why did i buy final fantasy 16 again?

 

[SHA]

Square news is bad news, just release yourself from Sony, everything will be okay.

 

[SkylineRKR]

I'm nearing the end of 16 this week and I find the game fantastic but with a good chunk of flaws. All things FF17 could easily fix.

There's still so many ways they can approach how to make the franchise super relevant like it once was. Everyone has a theory . "Make it turn based again." "Go back to FF12s Ivalice." "Do this do that"

If I were them I'd invest in 3 new franchises but tell each team whoever makes the best game will get the chance to then do FF17 with their game as a base. Let them take creative risks on a smaller budget scale. Take a FF16 budget and split it 3 ways. This could lead to the spark being found.

I personally would like to see them make a FF where I can make my own lead character like in FF15s character creator. Then learn from games like BG3 on creative quests with weight to them. Throw in combat that melds something like sea of stars with FF7 remake, and for the love of god give us a hard mode from the jump. Give us visually changing gear like FF stranger of paradise. Lastly, learn that the game story, world, and lore cannot keep being dumped into books to read in game. Make it work straight up. Also, yes, people like to play as other characters from the team.

That's just one set of ideas. I think a team like monolith with SE money would bring the franchise back to expectations for fans and the money guys .

FFXVI is way too streamlined and simple. It adds basically nothing in terms of quest design, RPG mechanics and overall immersion. Having control over only one character is another huge regression over FFVII R for example.

FFXVI actually feels like a more beautiful, higher budget but neutered version of Stranger of Paradise. This game actually has it all; a robust gear and job system, challenge, different weapons with different move sets etc. Everything I wanted to see in FFXVI. Looking past the horrible visuals I like SoP more.

 

[rofif]

Looks like rofif didn't shill enough for Forspoken. Come on man, I thought this game was amazing? Square probably ran out of money to bribe their Forspoken fans.

On a serious note - I don't get why Sony still hasn't bought them yet.

Honestly it's sad.
We had good, new IP, single player games this year. This and Immortals... and nobody cared.
one was memed for no reason and other might as well not exist. These are good games. This is what everyone is screaming for. Single player AAA games like the old days

 

[K2D]

I didn't like it. Problem with that?

No I don't have a problem with that. You're probably even warranted for disliking it.

What I do have a problem with is drive-by posting, hyperbole and the shit-piling going on in here. For a game that generally is well recieved by players.

 

[Tams]

They made a sick live action trailer for it that was actually really impressive. I think they marketed it a lot in the hopes it would be their GTA.

I mean to normies, not the denizens of places like here.

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

something about a designer name on a plain ass tshirt is always funny

 

[YeulEmeralda]

When was the last time a game met Square-Enix expectations? Final Fantasy X? lmao

Nier Automata. But only because they had no expectations.

 

[Haint]

Because its easy bait to blame sony and FFXVI

If 16 or Remake had been multiplatform during the initial hype cycle where games earn 80% of their lifetime revenue, and had done even close to Elden Ring numbers, it would have gone a long way to offsetting their other losses. Hell even a couple extra million copies would have been a big boone. I don't expect Sony's paying anywhere close to $150 million for these exclusivity contracts (look up how much Nintendo paid for MH Rise). Releasing this shit years later sells a fraction of a fraction of what it would have at launch. The Sony contracts are undeniably harming Square and their games.

 

[stn]

Its a shame. I love the hell out of Stranger of Paradise, and FF16. Valkyrie Elysium was also really solid, as was the most recent Star Ocean. I even want to buy Forspoken at some point.

 

[Roxkis_ii]

Oh look SE stock is down, let me take a moment to shit on FF16, because that game doing bad is surely why their stock is down.

-22% MMO and -18% mobile revenue is their biggest problem, idk why there is no mention of that in the article.

Oh, looks like ff16 has nothing to do with it.

Man I wonder how mad people are going to be when the find out the next Final fantasy isn't turned based.

 

[ReBurn]

They should have released FFXVI on PC alongside PS5. The performance issues on PS5 probably convinced a lot of people to wait it out.

 

[RCU005]

When was the last time a game met Square-Enix expectations? Final Fantasy X? lmao

I don't remember, but the way they are now, no game will ever reach their expectations.

The want every game to sell at least 10 million.