Episode 200 – Press On!

In our 200th episode, Klauss and Seyrr discuss the fallout from the Square Enix Investors meeting held in May, including the weaker than expected sales of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI and their 3-year restructuring plan which includes a number of layoffs in the NA and EU sectors. The pair then delve into the 3rd disc from the Final Fantasy XVI Soundtrack. We hope you enjoy!

Show notes:
Square Enix changes name of Creative Business Unit III, Yoshi-P’s job title – by Daniel Bueno: https://www.siliconera.com/creative-business-unit-iii-name-and-naoki-yoshida-job-title-changed/
SE President bemoans weak Final Fantasy sales – by Rich Stanton: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/square-enix-president-bemoans-weak-final-fantasy-sales-and-says-his-restructure-is-existential-our-winning-formula-is-no-longer-effective/
SE announces “Aggressive” shift in multiplatform strategy – by Wesley LeBlanc: https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/05/13/square-enix-will-aggressively-pursue-multiplatform-strategy-in-company-reboot
SE confirms layoffs are part of the restructuring plan – by Andy Robinson: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enix-confirms-us-eu-layoffs-as-part-of-restructuring/
Final Fantasy VII Remake team wants to give players more freedom and new gameplay in series finale – by Ayuo Kawase: https://automaton-media.com/en/news/final-fantasy-7-remake-team-wants-to-give-players-more-freedom-and-new-gameplay-in-the-trilogys-final-part/
Leaker reports FFIX Remake currently in Development – by Lance Gose: https://gamerant.com/final-fantasy-9-remake-in-development-leak/
Final Fantasy XVI Original Soundtrack, Disc 3: https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_XVI_Original_Soundtrack#Disc_Three_(1:13:44)