Square Enix, one of the giants in the gaming industry, is known for creating video games with compelling narratives as well as detailed graphics and immersive gameplay. However, the Japanese developer also has a reputation for being somewhat stingy when it comes to marketing its games. After facing criticism for the lackluster sales of its recent titles due to alleged insufficient marketing, Square Enix seems to be taking a different approach with the much-anticipated Final Fantasy 16.
The developer was under fire when Marvel's Avengers, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Outriders, and Forspoken didn't meet sales expectations. Critics argued the underperformance was largely due to the relatively minimal marketing Square Enix put into promoting these titles. The company never directly responded to these criticisms, but it appears Square took the feedback onboard and changed its marketing strategy for the upcoming release of Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 16, an exclusive game for the PlayStation 5 (the PC version isn't set to come until much, much later), is surrounded by buzz and excitement. It also doesn't hurt that Square is treating fans to a pre-launch celebration live stream featuring several noteworthy appearances, including the game's producer, Naoki Yoshida, musician Alex Moukala, and even Santa Monica Studios writer Alanah Pearce. But the biggest news that had fans on the edge of their seats is the potential release of a game demo.