For years, Square Enix’s biggest franchises — especially Final Fantasy — lived inside a walled garden of timed exclusivity deals, most often tied to PlayStation. But 2024–2025 marked a dramatic shift in the publisher’s strategy. After disappointing sales from PS5‑exclusive releases like Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Square Enix publicly committed to an “aggressively multiplatform” future across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC.
This week, that promise became more than a corporate talking point.
🚀 FFVII Remake’s New Update Quietly RE-Confirms the Strategy
As shared by Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS5 and PC is receiving the same streamlined progression features that are launching on Xbox and Nintendo’s next‑gen Switch successor. While the article focuses on quality‑of‑life improvements, the real story is what this update represents: Square Enix is now aligning feature parity across all platforms, not treating PlayStation as the “primary” version.
This is a major philosophical shift.
For decades, Square Enix’s development pipelines were built around staggered releases, exclusive content windows, and platform‑specific marketing deals. Now, the company is openly prioritizing:
- Simultaneous releases across all major platforms
- Unified feature sets and progression systems
- Maximizing reach instead of maximizing exclusivity payouts
- Long‑term IP health over short‑term exclusivity revenue
The FFVII Remake update is a small but symbolic example of this new direction.
📉 Why Square Enix Abandoned Exclusivity? (Again)
Square Enix’s financial reports paint a clear picture: the old model wasn’t working. Despite strong brand recognition, the company posted significant operating losses in its HD games division — including an ¥8.1 billion loss (≈$52M) even after releasing major titles like FFXVI and FFVII Rebirth.
The takeaway?
PlayStation exclusivity wasn’t translating into sustainable sales.
Meanwhile, multiplatform titles — even smaller ones — consistently outperformed expectations. The company’s leadership acknowledged this directly, stating that future titles will launch “simultaneously on each platform more and more”.
🎮 What This Means for Players
This shift is a win for everyone:
1. No more waiting years for ports
Xbox and Nintendo players, long left out of the Final Fantasy ecosystem, will finally get day‑one access to major releases.
2. Feature parity becomes the norm
The FFVII Remake update shows Square Enix is standardizing gameplay systems across platforms instead of treating non‑PlayStation versions as afterthoughts.
3. PC players benefit the most
Historically delayed PC ports may now launch alongside console versions — a massive improvement for modders, streamers, and performance‑focused players.
4. Stronger long‑term support
A unified player base means patches, expansions, and updates can be rolled out consistently.
🧭 The Bigger Picture: A Rebooted Square Enix
Square Enix’s new business plan — “Reboots and Awakens” — outlines a three‑year transformation focused on quality, consistency, and multiplatform growth. The company is effectively rebuilding its identity after years of scattered releases and inconsistent performance.
The FFVII Remake update is just the beginning. Expect:
- Multiplatform launches for all major IPs
- Fewer experimental side projects
- More predictable release schedules
- A stronger global presence across Xbox and Nintendo ecosystems
This is the most consumer‑friendly Square Enix has been in over a decade.
Square Enix’s multiplatform pivot isn’t just a business decision — it’s a cultural reset. The company is finally acknowledging what players have been saying for years: great games should be available everywhere.
The FFVII Remake update may look like a simple quality‑of‑life patch, but symbolically, it marks the moment Square Enix stopped treating PlayStation as its default home and embraced a future where Final Fantasy belongs to everyone.
If this is the new Square Enix, the next decade of JRPGs is about to get a lot more exciting.
