As revealed last week , Japanese publisher Square-Enix is seeking to expand its westward focus with the acquisition of struggling European publisher, Eidos. And now, S-E has elaborated a bit on its intent.
According to Edge Online , the veteran RPG publisher cited major Eidos franchises and several talented studios under the Eidos umbrella that makes the Tomb Raider publisher attractive to Square-Enix. Obviously, Lara Croft's series, which has total sales exceeding 30 million, is on their list, as is the Hitman franchise (8.3 million), Deus Ex (2.4 million), and Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (1.7 million) Also, you will see by that developer map (follow the previous link) Eidos has intriguing teams assembled all around Europe, as well as in the U.S., China, and Canada, which makes Square-Enix even more interested in pursuing the takeover. Eidos has already voted unanimously to recommend this deal to the shareholders, and if they approve, the deal goes down in April. For old-school gamers, this may appear to be a strange acquisition on the surface, but you have to remember that Square-Enix has changed its focus in this generation. They're no longer the Squaresoft of the original PlayStation days ('sob'), and their goal – like many Japanese publishers – is to appeal to a wider worldwide audience.
Snagging Eidos would certainly be a step towards that goal, although we have no idea what type of products we might expect. What type of game might be produced with IO Interactive as the developer and Square-Enix as the publisher…?
I think they should buy edios we might see some better games other than tomb raider.
Last edited by killzone100 on 2/16/2009 10:57:24 AM
I think this actually be pretty good, As long as Square Enix assigns good Producers for each studio, we get more hopefully Quality RPG games because of the Extra resources that are put into it. Hell I'll even say that I believe Square could be able better scenarious in the story a better plot (Which we know RPG games do very well) to Reboot Tomb Raider with.
This is just pure hope, but perhaps this acquisition will allow S-E to go westwards, without hindering the traditionality of Final Fantasy.
SHUT UP SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENIX SHUT UP!
It's Squenios now.
$quenix $quenix go away… come back another generation.
Square… were did u go wrong D: oh right… enix…
Not a big fan of this! I mean Eidos is multi-platform – but S-E's "westward" crap = 360 goodies. In other words… I'm not looking forward to any Deus Ex on the 360.
i hope this means western verisions of titles come out a little quicker because having to wait months for a game thats available somewhere else is starting to bother me
Lara Croft in Final Fantasy…hmm…I wonder if she'd just hop a ride on a Chocobo or still go adventuring on foot.
She's probably have on pimped out chocobo
@shadowpal2 I just imagined that and man that is so funny!
As I said, Tifa Tomb Raider. Don't be surprised.
"They're no longer the Squaresoft of the original PlayStation days ('sob'), and their goal – like many Japanese publishers – is to appeal to a wider worldwide audience."
— I say, for this very reason, fire all the top business decision makers, make them f*** themselves, and then ask those truly talented to restore the glory of Squaresoft.
interesting news, I wonder how the Jap feels about their own developers seeking a worldwide audience.
they will be pissed. not because the mere fact that they came to North America, but the fact that because they are westernizing, they compromise the classic RPG quality, that's the real reason why they are pissed and I am pissed.
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 2/16/2009 1:44:23 PM
amen to that. i want more turn-based RPGs on PS3 like say, FFX lol
Wait, I wanna know what could go down with Hitman, it's been a while.
I foresee a tomb raider rpg lol
Now if only they would explain their lack of interest in the Playstation 3…..j/k It's not hard to understand that Square-Enix wants in on western cash flow but Eidos? I don't think they are worth 120 mill. I like Tomb Raider as much as the next guy but Underworld was not as good or original as Legend and outside of Lara what else is there to pay all that money for? The Legacy of Kain license has been dead for a while now and the brains behind LOK's best game has since moved on to Naughty Dog. Then again with some of Squares recent's decisions boardering on the insane I guess this makes perfect sense ;p
This is some crazy news. Maybe with Eidos on board SE will be able to put a game out that people will want to play.
As long as there is another hitman in the future I will be happy.
and is it too much to ask for a freedom fighters 2
I can see S-E going bankrupt in the coming years. S-E will prolly go to microsoft for help like how squaresoft went to Sony for help. S-E has never been the same since the merger of Enix. Want to target western gamers yet making it exclusive is a pretty dumb move.
Then spending so much money,on a adverage game studio at best. They so could of got it cheaper. He'll I bet anyone of us could buy Midway for $100.Eidos for $200.lol j/k. These companies blow their franchises right out the window, S-E will be right with them.
"They're no longer the Squaresoft of the original PlayStation days ('sob')"
I feel your sadness, my friend.
i remember square said The Last Remnants is RPG for the world. (its written on the trailers).
and TLR ended as not-very-good-game. . .
square need to stick to what they was. not changing their vision to appeal worldwide.
the world love japan taste in SE games. (IMO)