Square-Enix Has Big Plans For Nintendo Switch
One good thing about the Nintendo Switch’s blockbuster success is that it should attract a more robust third-party lineup than what the Wii U got (AKA next to nothing). Square-Enix’s president Yosuke Matsuda recently brought up the Switch directly during his latest earnings report, and he sounds very eager to produce content for it.
“We base our development resource allocations on the unique attributes of each platform,” said Matsuda. “In particular, Nintendo Switch makes it easier for us to leverage our back catalog of assets and expertise, so we want to be proactive in creating new IP and rebooting past titles for that platform.”
Indeed, Square’s recent output has been a mix of both goals. They published a new Final Fantasy and a ton of spinoffs last year, but they’re also finishing up a polygonal remake of Secret of Mana for the PS4. Most recently Square published a free demo on the Switch for Project Octopath Traveler, a throwback RPG that uses a unique graphical style, translating 16-bit old-school graphics into 3D environments. The effect looked beautiful and the demo wasn’t bad as a whole. “Project Octopath Traveler” is a temporary name but we would not be surprised if they make it permanent. It’s Square we’re talking about.
“We intend to be proactive in our development efforts given that [the Switch is] a platform that is well suited to the mid-sized titles at which we excel,” said Matsuda at the meeting. Some of our suggestions: a deluxe version of Final Fantasy XV (if possible), a sequel to Vagrant Story by the original team, and a port of the PS4 Secret of Mana only the characters’ lips move when they talk. Barring that, bring over Seiken Densetsu Collection already.