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Square Enix

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Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Company typePublic
IndustrySoftware & Programming
Books & Magazines (Japan only)
FoundedAugust 1982 (as Enix)
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Key people
Yasuhiro Fukushima, Honorary Chairman
Yoichi Wada, President and CEO
Keiji Honda, Executive Vice President
ProductsFinal Fantasy video game franchise
Dragon Quest video game franchise
Revenue$598.3M USD (227% FY '03 to '04)
32,759,000,000 yen (2020) Edit this on Wikidata
21,346,000,000 yen (2020) Edit this on Wikidata
Total assets302,634,000,000 yen (2020) Edit this on Wikidata
Number of employees
2,706 (as of September 30, 2004)
Websitewww.square-enix.com

Square Enix (Japanese: スクウェア・エニックス Sukuea 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 both 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 only 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

Main article: List of Square Enix games § Square Enix

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 35 million units worldwide. The Final Fantasy franchise, has been considered Square Enix's most important asset, and is the best selling Square Enix franchise worldwide, selling over 60 million units. [1]

In May 2004 Square Enix announced an agreement with Sony Online Entertainment for the Japanese publishing rights to EverQuest II. As of 2005, Square Enix has produced titles for the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube video game consoles, as well as for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance handheld game console. The company has announced titles for the upcoming PlayStation 3, Nintendo Revolution, and Microsoft Xbox 360 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. As a matter of fact, Square Enix mobile phone games are available on the Vodafone network in some European countries, including Britain, Spain, and France.

Film

Square Enix have released two films, both based on Final Fantasy. The first one, which was Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a CGI-anime 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 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 (manga), Spiral, and Fullmetal Alchemist, the latter of which has been licensed for release in North America by Viz Media.

References

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