The relationship between Microsoft and Square Enix. For some unknown reason (or we pretend not to know), the two companies went their separate ways in recent years. Thus, after a few years of good relations, where we were able to see Day One releases on Xbox Game Pass as Outriders, the arrival of games like Dragon Quest XI (also directly on Xbox Game Pass) or the exclusive launch of the Octopath Traveler console included in the Microsoft service. After all that, it looks like the Japanese developer has moved away from Redmond, at least in terms of big releases.
Because yes, Square Enix continued to release titles on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, like Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin and The DioField Chronicles. However, these are the big productions of the company that are not announced for their arrival on Xbox. And there are many that are not even expected anymore. So, we started thinking, what will happen with future releases? Any chance to see one of them on Xbox?
We analyze case by case: Final Fantasy Saga
We start with the clearest and most direct cases. When it comes to the Final Fantasy VII Remake and its sequel announced for this year, it looks like all the fish are sold. Sony and Square Enix keep saying it’s a timed exclusive. But temporary ad eternum, meaning we’ll never see it on Xbox. And although it is not official, the feeling that users have is that. After more than three years since the premiere of the first part, we still don’t know anything about its arrival on other platforms beyond the PC. And we can say little about its second part, since it is announced as a PS5 exclusive, temporary again, so we have a hunch that it will come to PC at some point in the future and nothing d ‘other.
About Final Fantasy XVI we still keep a sad glimmer of hope. Minimal, fleeting, and lonelier every day, as the franchise’s newest numbered game is announced as a temporary PS5 exclusive for six months. But we know what will happen within six months of its release. And it’s not that we’re Nostradamus or that we have a crystal ball, it’s just applying logic: the game will be released first on the Epic Games Store (agreements between Sony and Epic), later on Steam and to count. I know, you know, we know.
It therefore seems clear that Xbox users seem to be left without seeing this episode. I hope things change and I’m wrong, but looking at recent history, it’s better to get used to the idea.
A concrete example: Octopath Traveler 2
It is a rare case. As I mentioned at the start, its first installment came as a console exclusive (not counting Switch) on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One, with launch included in Xbox Game Pass. In addition, the title is not even available today on PS4 and PS5. However, his sequel went the other way. Octopath Traveler 2 is available on PS5, but not on Xbox Series X | S. It’s one of those decisions that no one understands from the Japanese developer. Here, we can only speculate on what happened: Sony contract to prevent its release on Xbox (as revenge for the exclusivity of the first?), bad sales of the original game which do not help to launch its sequel, Square Enix’s decision to only support Japanese Consoles,… Either way, it’s rare to say the least.
With this case, I think sooner or later we will see its launch on Microsoft platforms. Maybe not to Xbox Game Pass, but without the full release of a sequel that many have been waiting for and now they’ve run out of it.
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Disney will have a lot to say: Kingdom Hearts 4
And let’s get into the hot spot: Kingdom Hearts 4. This week, it’s been a year since its reveal and official announcement. At the moment, the game has no announced platforms. Many, seeing the story with Final Fantasy, are betting on its absence from the Xbox Series X | S (it is assumed that it will only reach the new generation). However, a third actor comes into play in this game: Disney. The animation giant is an essential part of the title and the development and will therefore have a lot to say. In this sense, and knowing that as a Disney company it wants maximum economic performance, we could see a simultaneous launch on Xbox Series X | S, PC and PS5, just as happened with its third installment released a few years ago.
Since then, all the games in the saga have ended up arriving on Microsoft consoles. Yes, we know that the franchise was originally exclusive to PlayStation consoles, but it was later opened up to the Nintendo market and eventually went cross-platform. And with Disney behind it, it seems more certain that it will launch on all platforms. It’s nothing more than speculation about who is writing these lines, but the reality is what it is and, at least, this argument seems logical. Of course, there could be contracts involved (temporary, true exclusives, for example) or anything else that we don’t know about, but on paper that doesn’t seem to be the case.
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With all this, we can see how obvious the change in trend is. Square Enix is gradually moving away from Microsoft while continuing to get closer and favor Sony. And in the midst of it all are rumors that Sony may buy the company in response to the Activision purchase. Maybe it’s just to pave the way? Only time will tell.
