Square Enix and its decision to focus on AAA games might not be the best idea

The fact remains that AAA titles, when done and marketed right, like the mainline Final Fantasy games and the remakes, offer much more in return.

Of course, we can't forget dismiss the high level of risk either. Marvel's Avengers, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and even Outriders, all of which are AAA games that required significant investments, were largely considered commercial failures as well. Their stellar performance saw the company parting ways with Crystal Dynamics along with its western subsidiaries.

On that note, Luminous Productions disbanded after Square Enix, once again, saw that the numbers for Forspoken were no longer worth the money spent on the game's development.

Perhaps Square Enix's strategy is reminiscent of Hollywood's recent obsession with blockbuster franchises and toy-themed movies. There's an overarching sentiment that bigger is inherently more profitable. But as Square Enix's game sales targets soar, there's a tangible concern that the company might forsake gems in a quest for more lucrative returns.

Lest we forget, most JRPGs outside of the numbered Final Fantasy titles and the expanded Final Fantasy 7 universe aren't considered AAA productions.

A deep dive into this scenario brings forth a critical question: Is it all about the format and genre? The gaming industry has seen a perceptible shift towards action games in recent years, often at the expense of games with heavy role-playing elements. But the success of turn-based games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Persona 5, which both defied all the expectations, suggests that with the right blend of passion and resources, the turn-based format can indeed triumph.

It's hard not to salivate at the possibility of a Final Fantasy Tactics game with a AAA budget doing well should Square Enix believe in such an endeavor.

Moreover, the multiplatform launch strategy seems to hold the key to maximizing profits. Releasing a game exclusively on one console, as was the case with Final Fantasy 16 for the PlayStation 5, might restrict its initial sales potential. The noted drop in Square Enix's stock price in Japan after FF16's release is a testament to this. In a time when simultaneous multiplatform releases garner more attention and arguably more profit, exclusive releases may seem like a relic of a bygone era.

Then again, such a conclusion might feel like an overreaction as well - Square Enix seeing their profits and stock price go down isn't as worrying in the eyes of an investor when several sure-fire hits are lined up over the next few years.

Unfortunately, this brings up the conversation about Square Enix foregoing innovation and experimentation over titles with proven track records. Outriders, while not the biggest money-maker for Square Enix, was a decent outing well-deserving of a sequel if it isn't already in the works. And, while Forspoken and Babylon's Fall were both underwhelming, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was well-loved among critics despite the lack of sales.

One can't help but wonder if this is Square Enix's way of placing all of its eggs in a single basket or a realization that its business scope has peaked.

At the end of the day, we'll all just have to wait and see if Square Enix can find the right harmony between the Octopath Travellers and the Final Fantasys of the gaming world.