Square Enix Believes Putting Final Fantasy on Xbox Will Help With Sales

Interestingly, Square Enix already has a considerable presence on Xbox platforms. Contrary to popular belief, many popular Final Fantasy titles are available to play Microsoft's bespoke platform, including Final Fantasy 7 through Final Fantasy 10, Final Fantasy 12 through 15 and many other popular JRPG franchises like Octopath Traveler and so much more. However, with best-sellers like the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, FF16, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth all missing, Xbox fans are right to feel left out.

"So with Final Fantasy XIV as the starting point, we do want to release more Square Enix games on Xbox, and there will be more of our titles released on Xbox," commented Yoshida, suggesting that Square Enix and Xbox will bridge this gap in due time.

Square Enix is smart enough to know that the immediate increase in sales on Xbox might not be massive, but the added exposure and minimal effort required for multiplatform releases could lead to substantial benefits in the long run.

The commercial success of best-selling multiplatform titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, and even Baldur's Gate 3, are prime examples of the potential of this renewed approach.

Moreover, there's precedence here. FF15 saw a simultaneous release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. To date, it remains the fastest-selling video game in the franchise, moving five million copies in its first 24 hours, dwarfing the numbers posted by FF16 and FF7 Rebirth at launch.

If Square Enix does indeed stick to this multiplatform strategy, the future bodes well for Final Fantasy 17. The next installment in the anthology series could release on the PS5 and Xbox Series S and X when both consoles have reached their peak install bases, potentially setting new sales records.

However, while this news is encouraging, Yoshi-P hasn't confirmed anything outright yet. The exact timeline for when we might see more Final Fantasy games on Xbox remains uncertain.

With Square Enix moving away from platform exclusivity, at least for its major franchises, it'll be interesting to see how this will impact its relationship with Sony.

Square Enix is set to release Final Fantasy 16 on PC on September 17. A free demo is currently available.