Square Enix is a Japanese producer of video games and manga. Square Enix is best known for its computer role-playing game franchises, which include 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 in 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.
Square Enix has regional operations, including Square Enix, Inc. (for all of North America) and Square Enix Ltd (for Europe and other PAL standard areas). 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 2005, Square Enix had wholly acquired Taito.
Properties[]
Computer and video games[]
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 40 million units worldwide, with about 39 million from Japan. The Final Fantasy franchise, however, has been considered Square Enix's most important asset, and is the best selling Square Enix franchise worldwide, selling over 63 million units. More recently, Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts series (developed in collaboration with Disney's Buena Vista Games) has become massively popular worldwide, adding another valuable asset to the company.
Square Enix game franchises[]
- Final Fantasy - from Square - established on the Famicom in 1987
- Dragon Quest - from Enix - established on the MSX in 1986
- Itadaki Street (Japan-only) - from Enix - established on the Famicom in 1988
- SaGa - from Square - established on the Game Boy in 1989
- Seiken Densetsu (Mana series of games outside Japan) - from Square - established on the Game Boy in 1991
- Chrono Trigger - from Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Front Mission - from Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Star Ocean - from Enix - established on the Super Famicom in 1997
- Drakengard - in development for Enix, but published in the Square Enix name - established on the PlayStation 2 in 2003
- Kingdom Hearts - from Square with Disney - established on the PlayStation 2 in 2002
Film[]
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a CGI-animation movie based on Squaresoft's successful PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII which is set two years after the events of the game.
Manga[]
The company also has a manga publishing division in Japan (from Enix) 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, Spiral, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Also contains manga adaptations of diverse Enix, and later Square-Enix games, like Kingdom Hearts.
Fullmetal Alchemist was licensed for release in North America by Viz Media, while Kingdom Hearts and Spiral were licensed by Tokyopop.
External links[]
- Wikipedia: Square Enix
- Square Enix Global site
- PlayOnline Square Enix's portal for their online titles including Final Fantasy XI & Front Mission Online
- History of Enix and Square (official site)
- The History of Square