Square Enix has recently sold numerous western development studios. Among them are Crystal Dynamics and Eidos. The sale also included well-known brands such as Tomb Raider and Deus Ex. The studios and their titles went to the Swedish Embrace Group.
The latter also include, for example, Gearbox, Deep Silver and Koch Media. Huge shop, which the players themselves may not be aware of, but their concentrated portfolio is. But back to Square Enix: After the sale of various studios, the Japanese publisher now wants to set up and take over new developers again.
It sounds nonsensical, but you will think something about it. So the new studios should then probably fit better with Square Enix or the wishes of the publisher’s customers. Time will tell us what that might ultimately mean in practice.
Square Enix has also announced that it will invest in technologies such as AI, cloud-based services and the blockchain or NFTs. The potential new studios should then also build new brands. Square Enix is currently making a lot of money from its online RPG Final Fantasy XIV. This is still very popular, especially in Asia.