The days of PS2 dominance have come to an end as Square Enix’s John Yamamoto explains going ”multiformat” is the only way to maximise exposure now.
Concentrating on one console no longer delivers the impact it once did, even in Japan which has always been heavily biased to Sony’s PlayStation. The winds of change blow.
”Not so long ago the PS2 dominated the market so if we developed an exclusive game for PS2 then we could enjoy a very good profit. But that time is already over,” Yamamoto tells GamesIndustry.biz.
”To maximise and spread our games to as many users as possible I think we have to go to multiformat - the Xbox 360, PS3 and also the PC as well.”
Recently Square Enix opened a developer studio based in L.A. with the goal to pursue a global and particularly more westernised audience.
”The Japanese market is very strong and back when we could concentrate on developing games for just one console, business was very good. But the one-console market is over,” he said.
”With increased competition from overseas developers, Japanese companies must recognise the need to appeal to a broader audience.” Square Enix launched such a bid themselves with the announcement of Final Fantasy coming to Xbox 360 outside of Japan.
Yamamoto added, ”I wouldn’t make a generalisation about all Japanese developers, clearly, some have had continual success worldwide. However, I do feel that there is a tendency for Japanese developers to focus too heavily on the domestic market.”
