Square Enix Plans to Port More Games to Xbox

Seeing Japanese titles skip Xbox platforms is not an uncommon sight these days. It can be a frustrating reality for many Xbox fans. Thankfully, Square Enix seems to want to embrace the platform in the future.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Final Fantasy XIV Director Naoki Yoshida made the point clear. In response to a question about whether or not there is a market for Xbox, Yoshida responded positively. Yoshida spoke of Final Fantasy XIV itself and alluded to Square Enix’s involvement on the platform in the future.

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An Xbox Realm Reborn

The Xbox Series X/S version of Final Fantasy XIV was released just this year – on March 24, 2024. This comes much later than PlayStation platforms, which have had access to Final Fantasy XIV since 2013 via the PlayStation 3. Final Fantasy XIV was ported to PlayStation 4 in 2014, and eventually to PlayStation 5 as well in 2021. 

It has been a long time coming for an Xbox release of the game. So far, it seems like players are enjoying Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox platforms. “Players have been waiting a long time for the Xbox release [of Final Fantasy XIV], but I’m happy to say that we’ve seen a really strong response on Xbox,” Yoshida claims in his interview. 

Yoshida goes on to attribute Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer as being responsible for the game coming to Xbox. “With Final Fantasy XIV’s release on Xbox, Phil Spencer spent a lot of his time and a lot of effort and put in a lot of hard work making it a reality,” Yoshida states. He continues, “So we would like to make the best of that and further deepen the relationship with Xbox gamers going forward.”

So far, Final Fantasy XIV has followed that sentiment. The acclaimed MMO’s most recent expansion, Dawntrail, was released on July 2nd on all platforms, including Xbox Series consoles. 

Others on the Way?

Final Fantasy XIV indeed made its way to Xbox platforms, but what of the rest of Square Enix’s catalog? Xbox gamers with an interest in Square Enix’s games are hoping for more in the future on that front. Square Enix is one of many Eastern companies that has skipped the platform entirely for past releases. 

There’s a reason for that, Yoshida explains.“…when it comes to the Xbox platform and the fact that it was difficult for Japanese titles to be released on the platform, that’s tied into the fact that in the Japanese market, there is an extremely low number of users on Xbox.” 

Xbox’s low number of users in Japan has caused Square Enix to skip the platform previously. Square Enix wishes to pivot on this, however. Yoshida claims that their policy has changed, and now the company wishes to release games “on a multiplatform basis”. 

This is great news for Square Enix fans on Xbox consoles. While older titles such as Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy X are available on the platform, newer Square Enix titles are very scarce. Octopath Traveler II for instance released on June 5th of 2024 on Xbox platforms, over a full year after its release everywhere else. 

Other major notable absences from Xbox include Final Fantasy VII Remake and its sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Both games are timed exclusives on PlayStation, and even Rebirth has yet to see a PC release. A more likely major Square Enix title to come to Xbox is Final Fantasy XVI. Yoshida himself was the producer for Final Fantasy XVI, and the game is being released for PC soon on September 17th. 

It is very likely Final Fantasy XVI as well as other major Square Enix titles will find their way to Xbox platforms in the future. Xbox gamers can only hope that other Eastern companies will follow in Square Enix’s footsteps.

What do you think of Square Enix porting its games to Xbox? Have you played Final Fantasy XIV or Octopath Traveler II on Xbox yourself? Are you eager to play Final Fantasy XVI if it comes to Xbox? For the latest on Final Fantasy, Square Enix, and other JRPGs, stay tuned with us here at the Lords of Gaming.