Square Enix raises doubts with its "new" AI and blockchain direction

The good news is Kiryu is promising better cooperation between the company's development and publishing arms. The two, in recent years, have felt like two completely different companies. Furthermore, the letter reveals the company's plans to bring back older franchises to modern audiences and publishing newer titles, addressing earlier concerns following its announcement of doubling down on proven properties.

Finally, Kiryu touched on Square Enix's need to market its products more efficiently while expanding their reach, an area where it's tremendously lacking.

To be fair, the New Year's letter is an excellent idea. It's a chance to show fans that their feedback is valued while giving them a glimpse of the inner workings of the company and hype the upcoming year. Unfortunately, Kiryu's letter feels less like a letter aimed at fans and more of a message targeted towards investors.

Perhaps it lost some of its original intent in translation. Nevertheless, it isn't a good look for Square Enix's newest big boss, especially as fans previously doubted his plans for the company due to his previous experience involving extensive work in the Web3 space.

As audiences, fans, critics, naysayers, and onlookers, all we can do for now is give Square Enix the benefit of the doubt.

While the letter largely feels like a miss, it doesn't diminish the big year that Square Enix has ahead of it. Soon enough, PlayStation 5 owners can enjoy Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which promises to make audiences see Sephiroth in a new light and introduce new twists to the original trilogy. Afterward, it's off to Valisthea to join Clive and the rest of the party as they confront Leviathan in the game's second DLC. Finally, Final Fantasy 14 is expected to hit Xbox sometime later this year, presumably around the same time that Dawntrail comes out.