Square Enix, a stalwart in the gaming industry, has recently shared its financial results for the past six months, starting on April 1 and ending September 30. While the company faced a significant drop in profits, its flagship franchise, Final Fantasy, achieved a new milestone, which is especially surprising considering the stacked year we've had so far.
The financial report indicated a 33.4% decrease in operating income and a 42.1% decline in ordinary income. This recent downturn was attributed to a fall in net sales for MMOs, PC games, and smart devices. Notably, recent launches such as Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis in September failed to offset weaker performances by other titles in the portfolio.
Despite these challenges, Square Enix reported a 5.3% increase in net sales, thanks in part to the release of Final Fantasy 16 and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, which brought over the first six Final Fantasy games to modern platforms with minimal changes and a handful of much-needed quality of life improvements. Both of these releases have played a massive role to the franchise's continued success, with Final Fantasy now boasting over 185 million copies sold globally. This figure is a testament to the franchise's enduring popularity and its ability to continually captivate audiences.