Xbox & Square Enix Announce Plans To 'Partner Closely' On Future Games

Now all Square Enix needs to do is make good games. Tall order for them.

Well that solves that. Looks like i will not be getting FF16 on PS5 and will wait for it to come to Xbox down the line as the deal with Sony will hopefully end. Unless it was a forever deal.

Nice words but it sounds like when they released the FF games on gamepass. Big new partnership that petered out as soon as the GP titles was done.

So I'd like to actually know what games this means.

Hang on, I got a list around here somewhere....

@HonestHick I don't see why or how they could make a forever deal. SE's entire business model is re-releasing every game in their catalog 50x on each new platform.

Probably the next 3 to 5 games, then done

FF7 Remake please!

Good, xbox needs the square support. Maybe ill flop flop my pixel remaster purchases on switch and Xbox

Oh, and FF7 Remake.

I can't really afford the time sink that FF14 would require, but no doubt lots of folk will love the option of playing it on Xbox (finally).
Now, if we think about FF7R and FF16 than yes please.

This is actually incredible news for Xbox. However, this did happen in 2019/2020 with Kingdom Hearts & DQXI coming over and then just… stopped. Hopefully this time it will last.

@Tasuki I doubt he'll care tbh. His job is to make money, not to give a damn about what other people do. That responsibility falls to PlayStation's head of third party relations, whoever she is.

Perhaps this is good or even great news as the future plays out … all I know is that this earth shattering news to the PS crowd… they were hoping SE would be sold by now … I smell a negotiation tactic by SE…

Finally, FF14 is long overdue on Xbox.

Unfortunately I don’t have time for it (nowadays) but I will hold out hope for the FF7 remakes and FF16.

@AlwaysPlaying Sony can't afford Squenix. They never could. Their transfer kitty was about 6 billion, and half of that went on staff retention at Bungie. If Sony is buying studios, they are going to be newly established studios. Their last three were thus.

Good news for Xbox. Square chase money so I guess they were offered some

Def interested interested in FF14, but I’ve always heard it takes a big time commitment.

But I hope this means games like pixel remasters, Octo 2, and Star Ocean 2 make their way over, even if late. Shiiii maybe even cut a gamepass deal to help fund getting FF7R and 16 over since they may not be as easy/straightforward.

@Cashews yeah I doubt it’s for more than a year or so. But i don’t pretend to be a contract expert or know what Sony does to keep games on their platform longer. I would for sure get FF16 on Xbox if it came out. I have no issues getting it on my PS5 either other than i just don’t care for Sony’s controller layout very much. After 30-40 mins it just cramps my hands and i find it to be a bad layout for its size. Xbox controller is like a glove to me and i can play Diablo 4 for hours and have no issues with hand fatigue.

I'm fine with waiting a year later for something that might not sell well on Xbox if the trade off is it launches on Game Pass when it does come out, and would love if more game devs skeptical of it would give that method a chance. But man, do the Sony-exclusivity deals just take forever to run out...

Is it a coincidence this news comes after Microsoft has the essentially all clear to buy ABK?

@BeerIsAwesome maybe Phil went over to see how much it would take to buy them …

I played some 10-15h on PC while in free trial but gave up because I don't have a comfortable setup in the office. If it has the same free trial and even better I can have my save progressed to Xbox I will continue it for sure

@HonestHick I prefer the xbox controller as well. I bought the switch pro because it feels like the xbox controller. They have always done well with nice design since the 360 imo.

So much for the conspiracy theories that Sony was paying them to stay away.

As others noted this happened before. Hopefully this time around the people complaining actually put their money with their mouth is and buy the Xbox versions (not just hold out for Gamepass).

Otherwise Square will once again get the message that it just isn’t worth it.

The comments I have seen regarding this have been...well...just awful - not so much here, but just on gaming sites in general.

Terrible comments about Square Enix. Terrible comments about Microsoft (mostly the typical "bully with money/Microsoft opening wallet" type comments).

I am happy that whatever went down between Microsoft and Square Enix seems to have been patched up.

Maybe it's because I remember a time when Nintendo lost a lot of goodwill with Square Enix for years. That was tough times for Nintendo.

Now, I mostly blame Nintendo's arrogance at the time, but it's been amazing seeing Nintendo and Square Enix bury the hatchet. We got games like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, The World Ends With You, Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, and Triangle Strategy. Plus, Square Enix is involved in the Super Mario RPG Remake.

I'd argue that much of what made Square Enix special from the SNES/PS1 days was able to be retained thanks to renewing its relationship with Nintendo.

This is just great new for the Xbox community. I don't see why people have to be so hateful towards either company.

Microsoft has had a really hard time getting a foothold in Japan.

Sega would only take them so far and I will say that partnership has been great for Xbox - I don't think I would have ever taken a risk on the Like a Dragon series if it wasn't for the games coming to Game Pass.

I hope rekindling this relationship is just another strong step in Japanese appeal. I really hope this means that more "missed" games come to Xbox in the near future. Perhaps even some timed exclusives of its own.

I generally prefer the Xbox as my primary console. I like what the system offers over the PS5: Dolby Vision, Auto HDR, Dolby Atmos, Quick Resume, better VRR Range, etc. So the more games that come to the system, the better. I definitely wouldn't be one to "wait" for a Game Pass release, either!

I mean, I do have a PS5 so it's not like I would miss out any games if they stayed exclusive to that system, I would just prefer them on Xbox.

Anyways, I can't wait to see what else comes down the line for Xbox fans from Square Enix.

@GamingFan4Lyf Well said! Third parties making their games available in more places that can make sense with good partnerships is a win.

Also, I understand wanting most of my games on my Series X over my PS5. I’m also really weird in that I want to play Switch games on my Series X with my PS5 controller. I’ll keep dreaming.

My friend @Kaloudz and I are very happy about It! About time Square Enix rejected more shoddy exclusion deals with Sony.

Push Square is going to go mental.

Great news for Xbox as a whole. Absolutely devastating news for t-shirt conspiracy theorists. A plain black t-shirt, Phil? What's the internet supposed to pull out of its backside from that?!

By conspiracy theories do you mean that it was confirmed during a trial hearing that Sony pays third parties to keep games away from Xbox? Your profile picture with the three consoles, I wonder how sincere it is.

Interesting choice. Let's hope that your "Game of The Year" doesn't stay blue forever.

@Cashews yeah i agree. I have the switch pro controller as well and can use it for hours as well. No problems. But for some reason Sony controllers and me just don’t get along that well. I mean i can use them, and i do for some of their exclusive games. But it ain’t my go to for anything.

@Markatron84 well there’s the hedgehog running around the Microsoft office on twitter, leaning towards massive comparisons that Microsoft is buying Sega after the ABK deal. Which could very well happen. It be a huge get for GP.

@HonestHick I want the ABK acquisition to finish up, but I actually think Microsoft should cool it with acquisitions for a while.

The partnership between Sega and Microsoft is very strong right now. I don't really feel like it would be necessary.

I think the Game Pass output has been really good on the Sega Atlus front that it really would look greedy to gobble them up as well.

I'd like to see like a third-party exclusive-style relationship between Sega and Microsoft. Maybe have Atlus do an anime-style RPG based on a Microsoft IP or even just a new IP from Sega built specifically for Xbox. Anything other than an acquisition.

I don't think I ever had so many people blow up my phone all at once when that image of XIV/Xbox went up.
was at work and my phone just imploded with notification noises.

Lot of folks were speculating that Square was supposed to be purchased by Xbox before ABK once the poorly redacted details got spilled on acquisition targets. So if Square was expecting to be purchased and all of a sudden they were left high n dry it would explain the rumours about their relationship getting really poor and it being xboxs fault. Also might be why square had to offload the NA studios on the cheap just to get debt off their books. A bit tin foil but timing seems to line up.

@Krzzystuff Nah, Microsoft had a list of options for their gaming business but they haven't approached anybody aggressively. Zenimax was pleased with Microsoft and needed money and QA and ABK was actively looking for buyers. Even Minecraft's owner put his company up for sale via Twitter (or Facebook?). Moreover, Square Enix is always looking for deals with platform holders but not interested in being sold. Sony always got the best deals because it's cheap to kick out the third competitor. Square Enix sold the Western studios to reduce the group's debt and to focus on their traditional IPs. After the merger, Microsoft will be able to not be excluded so easily but third-party games should always be multiplatform.

@HonestHick same. I got £60 worth of PS store credit & was thinking of buying myself a PS5 on sale as there £399 just to buy Square Enix games instead of using my sons. Will wait now after this announcement & use the credit to get my son spiderman 2.

Is it too soon to start dreaming about FF7 Remake on Xbox again? 🥹

"Whenever possible"

Key words......

At this point I am not sure I care too much. I really liked playing FF XV on XB. And when XIV never came last gen, and then the XVI snub I pretty much decided that I wouldn't need to play Square Enix games anymore.

They will have to convince me that they are on XB to stay and that they are truly committed before they will see any more of my money. I am not running back just because they are singing happy songs.

@GamingFan4Lyf Rumor is the deal between Sega and MS were close and the ABK deal came up and MS asked to take a break from it and Sega started to bring a lot of it’s games to Xbox GP and even showed some first on Xbox. Then the Hedgehog running around the office. There were rumors before with the blue controller or whatever. Lot’s of signs point to a Sega partnership of some sort. But this would strengthen Xbox GP a bit more in Japan, tho still hardly move the needle but be a start.

@Moonglow Hard to tell, CEO of MS said publicly his vision is to double Xbox’s revenue by 2030 and that the ABK deal wasn’t the last. That being said, i think MS still has its foot on the gas pedal. They have a vision of a AAA game every quarter and they have to be getting close to achieving that.

@cragis0001 sounds like a good plan. I don’t care for Marvel games but of course Spider-man 2 will be a super well made game and sell a ton. I have respect for it, it’s just not a thing for me. My PS5 is mainly just exclusives at this point.

@BeerIsAwesome

They just hired someone for acquisitions. And there are rumors that they want to sell their financial and insurance business. I'm sure they're working on something big behind the scenes. But time will tell.

I've got my cynical head on here, but when they say, "whenever possible, we are planning to bring our games to Xbox" the actual translation probably says, "whenever Sony does not pay to keep it off Xbox". At the very best, the chances are that we get games after a considerable timed exclusivity period on the PlayStation. Sad, but most likely true...

@Fiendish-Beaver why are people always blaming sony for SE games not on xbox.
Almost half of SE’s output is switch exclusive and published by Nintendo. The other half is on switch, ps5 and pc. There’s only a handful of PlayStation exclusives, relatively few compared to switch exclusives.

Phil Spencer and the Xbox team are doing well 👍🏻

I hope this happens, but it sounds like the polite sound bites ceo's will always say to each other at such shows.
Its also quite obvious that square used the phrase 'future games' so I suspect anyone waiting for ff7 remake or ff16 will be disappointed.

Dispite my misgivings, it would be good to see sqeenix titles available to all and I hope the xbox gets more of them.

@HonestHick I'm the same. As spiderman doesn't interest me in slightest but bet its still a good game. I might still get myself a PS5 later for exclusives but after I've had fun with Final Fantasy 14

@darkswabber because there is very much a Playstation vs Xbox narrative in threads here and on Push Square at the moment.

Nintendo doesn't enter their heads when one slags off the other.

Well, I'll eat my hat on this one. I was sure Sony was going to purchase Squeenix, too many things lined up. Let's see what happens in a few years. I'm reminded of X019 when Squeenix did this to Xbox last, they flirt hard, then leave Xbox high and dry. Phil will have to keep the money train rolling if we're going to see those games on Xbox, that is the reality.

@Jenkinss I dont think Sony can afford to acquire any publishers right now.

Skepticism and conspiracies aside, I think reality is SE games just sold better on other platforms. MS have stepped in and likely offered some finances in order to bring games back to the platform.

Its a smart and wise investment by Phil as there are a lot of Xbox only gamers who love their franchises.

@Kaloudz Let's hope that they release the Pixel Remaster Collection, the remake of VII, XVI and Octopath Traveller II before things change again 🤣.

Agree, @darkswabber, but of course we are actually talking about Xbox here, not Nintendo. Add to that that we actually know for a fact that Sony pays SE for exclusivity for games such as Final Fantasy. Supposedly timed, but we never see them. Therefore, it is either the case that Sony is paying to have permanent exclusivity for the likes of Final Fantasy, or they are paying to keep the games off of Xbox, because SE used to put their FF games on to the Xbox, but now don't. I seem to recall that during the FTC Court case, Phil Spencer said as much, or at least implied it...

@TommyNL I doubt it. They don't have *****-off money like Microsoft do. The "selling" of their financial entities appear to be a "partial spin-off", which is a listing of them on the stock market, and getting rich investors to drop them big bucks. As far as I have seen, their financial division is one of the most profitable divisions, which makes you wonder why it's only offered in Japan.

@AlwaysPlaying Probably. Every article I see about them these days makes me wonder who they are buying this time. Just buy Sega so I can finally quit gaming and touch grass for the first time in decades.

@darkswabber So here's my take:

Yes, there are only a handful of actual PlayStation exclusives, but Xbox is specifically singled out on these multi-platform releases.

Now whether that is due to broken down relations between Microsoft and Square Enix or part of the revelation that Sony is paying to specifically exclude the Xbox console is something that time will certainly reveal.

If these multi-platform releases still exclude Xbox in the next 12 - 24 months, then it definitely raises suspicions of Sony paying to exclude Xbox. Perhaps not a smoking gun, but a stink would definitely be in the air.

2 years is plenty of time to port a game to Xbox when a PC variant already exists - especially something like the Pixel Remaster games or Octopath Traveler II.

@AlwaysPlaying I immediately thought something similar...like they're trying to get Sony to the negotiating table for a potential sale.

I bet the first new SE game on the xbox is that awful looking splatoon clone.

@Kaloudz The pixel remasters and Octopath Traveller II is what I want the most 😁.

So basically whenever Sony says it's okay.

Whilst I know this is going to be received well by some members of the Xbox Community, and of course its great to have 'more' games coming from Square Enix, from my perspective, they sold off their most interesting [to me] IP's to Embracer.

The last game I bought that was Published by SE was probably Shadow of the Tomb Raider - although did play 'Outriders' on Game Pass but never bought it.

I can't see myself benefitting from a 'better' partnership between Square Enix and MS myself but I am sure others will...

I’m happy for the fans but I can’t say I’m too excited for it. Truthfully they really haven’t been putting out too many good games lately with the exception of final fantasy. SMH. Good for them though.

Whilst SE quality has dipped for sure (they spam out too many games); it would suck if Xbox missed out on Kingdom Hearts 4 or Dragon Quest XII so hopefully it’s all good for the future at least. I’m happy with this news but it does make my PS5 more of a paperweight.

Cool. I just pre-ordered the Spider-Man PS5 so this isn’t an issue for me now, but the more people that can play these games the better.

@Banjo- let's see what the Tokyo Game Show has in store. I'd expect similar games to what they did last time plus maybe one previous exclusive & release missing titles in the portfolio already on Xbox. So maybe.
Octopath Traveler 2.
Tactics Orgre Reborn.
Live A Live.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters.
Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song.
Star Ocean The Second Story R.
It will also be nice to get Switch exclusives the same time as the PS5 when they expire so
Dragon Quest Treasures.
Harvestella.
It will also be Intresting if they'd port PS5 exclusives eventually to boost sales of
Forspoken.
Final Fantasy 16.
Valkyrie Elysian.

@cragis0001 That's a nice recap. Octopath Traveller II, Tactics Ogre Reborn, Live A Live and Star Ocean The Second Story R are all on PS, Windows and Switch.

Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters and Romancing Saga Minstrel Song are on absolutely everything but Xbox, Android and Apple included.

Dragon Quest Treasures and Harvestella are on Switch and Windows.

Forspoken and Valkyrie Elysium are on PS and Windows, but they wouldn't run well on Switch. Sony paid for Forspoken to skip Xbox for two years. Funny, since it's arguably the worst game.

I bet that Final Fantasy XVI will be on Windows in December this year after the six-month agreement with Sony expires.

The most confusing case is Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Six months for Sony, six months for Epic (Windows) and then Steam (Windows), but still no Xbox version since June 2021, over two years now, so an Xbox exclusion contract with Sony is renewed regularly or the original one lasts more than two years. Second part Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is supposed to go out next year and the sad thing is that everybody expects it to be on PS5 only for a while.

Then there are Dragon Quest X Offline released in 2022 in Japan and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake with no release date.

@Banjo- Switch's successor will probably answer those questions. A big reason FFVII Remake isn't on the Switch is because the Switch isn't powerful enough but the successor would reveal whether that was the only reason because power wouldn't be an issue anymore.

@Banjo- I'd expect the multi plat titles first specially the ones that are already established on Xbox as I guess that's what Square Enix meant by "when possible".
It will be interesting after Final Fantasy 14, if we get 2024 titles first then the odd port of 2022/23 titles in between or we get 2022/23 titles first then a slight delay on 2024 titles until caught up. It will be interesting if Games Pass has any role to play as that would be financial & technical support.
I'm not holding my breath until after all three Final Fantasy 7 remakes are complete as I think Sony has that wrapped up as like you said about extensions being extended. There is always the rumoured Final Fantasy 9 remake which Is meant to be like the FF7:Crisis Core remake.
I'd also expect Switch exclusives to arrive before PS5 ones? as I wonder if the later would be the titles that Microsoft would offer more support so they'd be better optimized to run on the Series hardware specially the Series S. As the claims that Forspoken & Final Fantasy 16 could only run on PS5 hardware.

@cragis0001 @Kaloudz Who knows. I expect the Pixel Remaster collection and Octopath Traveller II first as they are glaring omissions and everything else after that but you're probably right and we won't get Final Fantasy VII Remake until the three parts have been released, which might actually be a good thing.

@ThatMusicFan exactly as when it comes to japanese support Phil has certainly delivered with Bandai Namco, Capcom releasing pretty much there full catalogue. The Sega partnership going strong with Atlus full support & now Square Enix back on board 😀. I wonder what other suprises Phil has up his leaves. My only issue now is what game in 2024 to fully sink my teeth into Blue Protocol or Final Fantasy 14.

@cragis0001 I never thought I'd playing Final Fantasy XIV but everyone talks about it in a positive way, it has evolved significantly and it's coming to Series X.

A small reflection, if you read this headline, it looks like it's just about future games coming to Xbox and that had me slightly worried, but if you read what the new CEO of Square Enix literally said, quoted in the article, it's about past and future games.

As you said, Xbox is fully supported by Capcom, Sega and Namco Bandai. That's great and for me the best thing is, actually, Koei Tecmo's remasters of Project Zero/Fatal Frame.

@Banjo- @cragis0001 @Kaloudz I think Pixel Remasters will come to Xbox around the time the FFXIII trilogy is no longer Xbox exclusive with regards to modern platforms as a way to treat all 3 platforms equally.

@Grumblevolcano That's very unlikely, as the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy on Xbox has nothing to do with "platform parity", but it's thanks to Microsoft's engineers and backwards compatibility that it still is a thing.

@Banjo- aye Pixel remaster & Octopath Traveler 2 would be the popular choice to be first to be ported. I'd say in the long run it would be better if all three release at once like you say who knows as Square Enix are a weird company to pridict.

They should be able to bring their catalog of bad games over fairly quickly: the remasters, NEO, Harvestalia, all of their terrible novels masquerading as games like Triangle Strategy, etc. Puke them out on the X/S it should make a few people happy.

@Banjo- Final Fantasy 14 is a fab game. Its a time sink though but in a good way. Plus another reason I guess Phil went to great lengths to get it on Xbox is it was voted the most popular Final Fantasy game in Japan last year.
Yeah it sounds like whatever Phil & the Xbox team did has won over the new CEO to offer full support on titles not under exclusive contacts.
I've not played a Fatal Frame game in ages. Is the new on good?

@Grumblevolcano only time will tell I guess. Tokyo Game Show will hopefully have a few announcements.

@Banjo- There seems to be a resurgence of 7th gen games being remastered of which the originals were added to the Xbox backwards compatibility program. The main purpose likely being about Switch and PS4/PS5 (sometimes also PC like with RDR) getting games that aren't currently on the system so I could see something similar happen with FFXIII trilogy.

@cragis0001 Yes, the Project Zero/Fatal Frame remasters are awesome. I just hope that they sell well enough to bring back from limbo the first three games. The first two games are not backwards compatible and the third game is stuck on PS2.

In any case, the "resurgence of seventh generation games being remastered" are ports, remasters or remakes. The XIII trilogy is the original Xbox 360 trilogy, it's not an "Xbox exclusive" as you described it, it's not a port and it has nothing to do with platform parity as you are suggesting. Your comment is completely misleading because you call the Xbox 360 trilogy an Xbox exclusive and because you say that the three platforms are not treated equally because of that. It's exactly the opposite, Sony paying for Xbox exclusion deals as it was confirmed during a trial hearing is what destroys platform parity. Final Fantasy XIII was released for PS3 and Xbox 360, it just happens to be backwards compatible on Xbox One and Series S|X because Sony didn't care about backwards compatibility or was not able to implement it. If they port Final Fantasy XIII to Series S|X but not to PS5, then you can compare the trilogy with the ports/remaster/remakes available on some but not all consoles. Until then, it's a completely different reality where Xbox is the only console that is not treated equally.

@Banjo- let's hope they sell well so they can port or remake the one stuck on PS2 👍

@cragis0001 It's one of my favourite video games series, I really hope to see the first three games released on modern platforms 🤞🏻.

Fantastic news to hear. Even though I have a ps5 so I was t really missing out on my beloved square games. Still though fantastic news. Hop3 many future games, and old ones from square will cross over.

@Banjo- ‘we won't get Final Fantasy VII Remake until the three parts have been released, which might actually be a good thing.’

You can’t polish a turd 😂 I’m in the minority but hated what they done with FF7R, I disliked it so much I won’t be buying any sequels.

@Fenbops I haven't played VII Remake but because they released a remake, then they fixed the awful low-resolution textures and finally they released a new version of the remake, it wouldn't hurt to wait for the definitive package. In gameplay terms, it seems that the original still wins. I played the original on Windows and I just got the Xbox version. The Final Fantasy games are 50% off now.

@Kaloudz Time for backlog games, we'll get the Pixel Remaster collection some day 😁.

@Banjo- You misunderstood my point. What I was on about is Square Enix will likely be cautious not to burn bridges. PS5 is the best place to play FF at current because it's missing the least number of games, if that changes to all 3 being equal then that's not going to cause problems.

But if it changes to Series X|S being the best place to play FF because of what Microsoft were able to do with the backwards compatibility program in the XB1 era (current systems having the same games except Series X|S also having the FFXIII trilogy), that would probably burn bridges with Sony.

@Banjo- the gameplay in FF7R isn’t the issue, the combat was quite good actually, better than the trash FF16 presented.

I really disliked what they added to the story and what they changed in that regard. The ending sequence in particular was a travesty.

@Fenbops Better to play the original game, then. I was a kid but I remember it fondly.