This year's been real one. I spent a lot of time playing games this year to take my mind off real events, not that they weren't important to grapple with, but to give brain a breather. Moments to pause, wipe the slate clean, and regroup. A lavish splash of comfort in what's otherwise been a very hostile landscape to navigate through -- and for that I feel lucky and privileged to enjoy that comfort when I can. Of course, it was a big year for Square Enix. Big hitters like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Marvel's Avengers, as well as plenty of other mid-range titles were peppered throughout the year. It felt important to recap and collect some of my thoughts about the games Square Enix released or announced amidst the everything of everything... Before we move on to what 2021 may bring. So without further ado, here's my look back at 2020... The Final Fantasy VII Remake Becomes Real The run-up to Final Fantasy VII Remake's launch felt like a march through a minefield, due in part to datamined assets from the game's demo that revealed key scenes, including the game's entire script, making the internet a dangerous place for anyone wanting to

Update: In an Impress Watch interview released November 25th, Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida confirmed "Forspoken" was not the name of the new expansion. Square Enix recently filed a new trademark for a 'Forspoken' title, sending off a wave of speculation that it may pertain to Final Fantasy XIV's next expansion. What makes this particularly notable is that each of the game's previous expansions have had their titles trademarked in advance of their announcement. The company also trademarked 'A Hero's Bonds,' which doesn't follow the naming conventions... if you were to leave out 'A Realm Reborn' perhaps. What's more: it may pertain to another game -- Final Fantasy XVI or the tentatively titled "Project Athia" springs to mind, though that may be a long way off yet. Either way, as the Shadowbringers scenario came to a close in Patch 5.3, many of the game's faithful are looking ahead to the fourth expansion, that, should the cadence of previous launches persist, will release next summer. Typically this announcement would come at the game's Fan Festival -- but due to the COVID-19 pandemic shuttering all three events -- it's not easy to pin down when the reveal will come. However, in

Square Enix has gone live with their lineup for this year's Tokyo Game show event, set to take place online from September 23 to 27. The opening of their official site reveals the company's software lineup and event schedule, with more to be revealed leading up to TGS 2020. Without further ado, here's their lineup: Lineup Babylon’s Fall (PS4, PC)Balan Wonderworld (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)Collection of SaGa: Final Fantasy Legend (Switch)Dragon Quest X Online (PS4, Switch, PC, Wii U, 3DS)Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age S – Definitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Game Project (Arcade, iOS, Android)Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Marvelous Mysterious Key (iOS, Android)Dragon Quest Rivals Ace (Switch, PC, iOS, Android)Dragon Quest Tact (iOS, Android)Dragon Quest Walk (iOS, Android)Final Fantasy XIV (PS4, PC, Mac)Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius (iOS, Android, PC)Final Fantasy Trading Card GameKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (PS4, Xbox One, Switch)Manga UP!Marvel’s Avengers (PS4, Xbox One, PC)Romancing SaGa Re: Universe (iOS, Android)Square Enix MusicToji no Miko: Kizamishi Issen no Tomoshibi (iOS, Android)War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius (iOS, Android) View the company's event schedule below: Event Schedule September 24 (YouTube/Niconico/Twitch) 6:00PM (JST) – Coming Soon 10:00PM (JST) – Coming Soon September 25 (YouTube/Niconico/Twitch) 6:30PM (JST) – Square Enix Music at Tokyo Game Show 2020: Game Sanpo TGS Special: “Vocabulary Lessons

As the summer season swings in, rumors swirl around potential new game announcements, and the Final Fantasy series has long been part of that tradition. Recently, a 4chan rumor suggested that Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida would helm the next numbered entry as its director. Yoshida fielded this rumor during a rebroadcast of the 'Letter from the Producer Live' broadcast series the team is airing as part of the COVID-19 Stay Home initiative. The team has also been providing commentary alongside them in the chat. According to RPGSite, Yoshida candidly wrote: "Ah, looks like some kind of big fake news came out. I'll say it clearly - it's annoying." He went on to say that he would be staying in his role on Final Fantasy XIV "for more years to come (as long as I don't die from sickness or accident)". Recently, following a restructuring of Square Enix's business divisions, Yoshida became the head of Division 3. This divison presides over the development of Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV, and recently put out the lovely Dragon Quest Builders 2. Per a recruitment page Square Enix has hosted for several years (and updated last year to reflect the restructuring) the

During Anime NYC, Square Enix revealed several new titles for its lineup of English-translated manga, novels and artbooks for 2020. Among the titles scheduled to release next year during the Fall includes a new novel titled NieR:Automata YoRHa Boys, and a section of manga such as The Apothecary Diaries, Ragna Crimson, The Great Jahy will not be Defeated!, Beauty and the Feast and By the Grace of the Gods. The NieR:Automata YoRHa Boys novel will take place before the beginning of NieR:Automata and focuses on the story of YoRHa Experimental Unit M, a squadron comprised of YoRHa male type models established for the purpose of collecting a full range of behavioral data. The story is written by Jun Eishima, supervised by NieR:Automata Director Yoko Taro and will feature artwork by famed Final Fantasy illustrator Toshiyuki Itahana. Additionally, the following titles have received official release dates for 2020 as well: A Man and His Cat, Volume 1 – February 11, 2020Hi Score Girl, Volume 1 – February 25, 2020Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!, Volume 1 – March 10, 2020Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town, Volume 1 – Mar 24, 2020My

Similar to how Square Enix’s Third Development Division’s recruitment website was updated with new concept art for their upcoming next-gen title; the company’s First Development Division has also updated their own recruitment page, revealing that Square Enix has a brand-new next-generation action game in the works for high-definition consoles and are looking to hire more talented individuals to work on this mysterious new IP. “With an international team of creators from all over the world, our staff is working together to develop a ‘next-generation action game experience’ that goes beyond the framework of existing action games.” The First Development Division is best known for their work on titles such as Kingdom Hearts III, SaGa: Scarlet Grace, Final Fantasy XIII and a multitude of other titles, and possess a large number of skilled staff members who work on games from consoles to smartphones. This studio is also responsible for the creation of Final Fantasy VII Remake and are also looking to bring in more hands to assist it further in its development. While no further information about this new title was provided, it will be exciting to see what new game the First Development Division has in the works alongside the highly anticipated

Over on the recruitment page for Square Enix’s Third Development Division, new concept art was revealed for their next-gen game that had been announced back in April when Square Enix consolidated with Business Division 5 as part of the company's internal restructuring. Described as a large-scale HD game by the studio's manager Naoki Yoshida, this new “Core Title” had moved out of it's initial development stages and began full-scale development when the recruitment announcement had originally been made. “Following Final Fantasy XIV, we have launched a new core project and have begun the challenge for the next generation. This project has already completed its initial development, has completed environment development and is now moving into a full-scale large-scale development phase.” While no further or detailed formation regarding this mysterious IP has surfaced since it’s announcement, it should be safe to guess that the game will be heavily fantasy-themed based on the artwork alone. Whether or not it's Final Fantasy XVI is unknown at this time, so we'll just have to wait and see!

In two blog interviews over on the official website for Luminous Productions (The team behind Final Fantasy XV) Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda and Studio Head Takeshi Aramaki shared their thoughts on game development, their hopes and expectations and more in two separate interviews regarding the past, present and future of their budding studio. Additionally, it was revealed that a brand-new triple-A title is currently underway. According to President Matsuda, despite the studio having created Final Fantasy XV, the IP will be something entirely new: “What types of products and IP is Luminous Productions currently working on? Considering that the studio was initially staffed largely by the development team of “Final Fantasy XV,” I would imagine that they’re working on something relevant to the Final Fantasy series.” Matsuda: No, they’re actually working on completely new IP. “Creating new IP with the latest technology” – that’s the primary mission of Luminous Productions. “Creating completely new, AAA-quality IP with the latest technology at a newly established studio – I feel that’s an incredibly challenging undertaking.” Matsuda: I agree. It’s crucial that we constantly push ourselves to take on new challenges – it’s something all of us in the gaming business must strive for. Square Enix along with

Square Enix will be attending PAX West 2019 at the Washington State Convention Center from August 30th to September 2nd. Attendees visiting Booth #2335 will get to see “Midgar come to life” with a recreation of some familiar sights from Final Fantasy VII’s Sector 1, including the train station and a giant looming Mako Reactor that will house gameplay demos of Final Fantasy VII Remake. A bundle of Square Enix titles will also be available to play at Booth #2141, such as Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, Trials of Mana and more. Activities that will be available at Square Enix’s booth will include the following: Cloud’s Hardy Daytona motorcycle from Final Fantasy VII: Remake will be present for photo opportunities. Challenge and beat Titania Extreme from Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers. Those who successfully beat the challenge will earn an “I Beat Titania” t-shirt. Join three other newcomers to Final Fantasy XIV Online and challenge the Lord of Inferno himself: Ifrit. This special challenge is designed for new players and will reward a free copy of Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition to take home. Play Square Enix’s popular mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius on a giant touch screen.

Announced today on his official Twitter account, Dragon Quest Builders series director Kazuya Niinou revealed in a thread that he has left Square Enix now that development on Dragon Quest Builders 2 has concluded. Although he is leaving the company, Niinou mentioned he would still assist Square Enix externally and work with them when needed. Below is the Twitter thread, roughly translated: “With development for Dragon Quest Builders 2 completed, I have left Square Enix. I would like to thank Naoki Yoshida, Noriyoshi Fujimoto, Takuma Shiraishi, all of my colleagues and everyone who enjoyed the games I made! Thank you all!  I have been at Square Enix for 7 years (That’s a long time!). I felt a little burnt out after finishing Builders 2 and wanted to try a development cycle different from Square Enix. So I decided to leave for a new development environment. My plans for the future have already been decided, and I want to talk about this decision more next week. I also want to do my best in game development, so please look forward to it. In addition, I am still planning to watch over Builders 2 and will continue to work with Square Enix as external staff. (There