Tokyo-based Square Enix held its own during the past 12 months, reporting a small profit on a billion-plus dollars in revenue. The financial report shows how the big Japanese company known for its Final Fantasy console games is adapting to the era of digital online and mobile games.
Square Enix reported revenues of 167.9 billion yen,or $1.39 billion, in the fiscal year ended March 31, up 8 percent from 155.0 billion yen, or $1.29 billion, a year earlier. Net income for the fiscal year was 9.8 million yen, or $81,826. That compares with net income of 6.5 million yen, or $54,917, a year earlier.
The company said that catalog sales were strong, but it released fewer console games during the fiscal year. It also expanded its presence in smartphone and PC browser games.
Standouts for the year included the browser game Sengoku Ixa and the smartphone game Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light. Other strong mobile games include School Girl Strikers, Final Fantasy: Record Keeper, and Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur.
Square Enix also said that its Final Fantasy XIV and Dragon Quest X massively multiplayer online games made good progress. The company said in a statement, “The business environment surrounding the group is in the midst of major changes, where smart devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs are spreading rapidly, while the console game markets in North America and Europe are increasingly competitive and oligopolistic. In light of such environmental changes, the group is focusing all efforts on a substantial earnings improvement through driving reforms of business structure in order to establish new revenue base.”