Square Enix: Future of PS3 Could be Tough

Is it a super computer? Is it a Blu-ray player? No, it's a videogames console! PlayStation 3's schizophrenic marketing has come under scrutiny and the boss of Square Enix reckons Sony needs to sort it out.

According to Reuters, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada told a gathering of reporters in Tokyo that the future of PS3 "would be tough if its marketing strategy is not straightened up".

[Bloodmask]

that SquareEnix is less than thrilled with PS3 sales. And now Sony is really screwed bc if they market PS3 as a "games" machine they can't claim victory in the format war.

Sony you shouldn't have used the PS3 fanbase for your Bluray agenda. Now it is all blowing up in your face.

[tplarkin7]

The PS3 is losing badly in all territories. There appears to be no hope for recovery. SquareEnix is publicly warning Sony to sell more systems, or else...

The Wii is killing Sony in Japan. If Sony was winning Japan, only then would it have a chance in other territories. Japanese developers are now forced to make games for Wii or 360 in order to eat.

[Skynetone]

but people dont know about the hd capability or blu-ray format

so advertisement needs to be split

[witchking]

... then you're going to see more FF games on other platforms. If FFXIII goes multi-platform, PS3 loses a huge feather in its cap.

Squeenix wants to make money. Right now they don't stand to make as much putting a product solely on the PS3.

[MarioFromTexas]

FF can't be on the 360, because 360 ain't selling crap in Japan where FF series is the biggest. Oh you xbots forgot about that. Square Enix could say the fuk they want to say but at the end of the day PS3 is outselling 360 worldwide and most important for square, japan. Last time I check 360 has only has a 4 million lead and that's with the so call great library, can't wait til next march so I can rub it in your faces when PS3 surpasses the 360. Square Enix releases on 360 that's a failure from the start, what did blue dragon sell in japan oh wait 150,000 copies....Yeah that's going to get their money back...xbots are idiots

[Sez]

360 only has a 4million lead on sony. are you stupid or what. the ps3 only sold 4.46 million units worldwide not 6 or 7 million. they shipped 6 million to retailor. not customers. and if thats the case if you want to use shipped numbers. the 360 shipped 11.6 million as of june.think before you post. shipped not sold. sony is in third worldwide. get over it.

[jjfunaz]

I'm sorry but your response is filled with so much drivel and incorrect statements I don't know where to start.
1. While Japan is important for SE, Final Fantasy sells just as much in america as it does there. Also, by march lets say 2.5 million people have a ps3 in japan, everyone would have to buy two copies in order for it to be worth it to them.
2. Xbox leads PS3 world wide by 6 million, and the way PS3 is "out selling" at such a rate that that ps3 would take the lead in 2012 if things stay the way they are. So if you think ps3 is surpassing 360 by march your wrong
3. 150k copies sold in japan out of 400k users is a pretty good sales percentage.

I don't understand the rationale of people who just spew incorrect information like you just because your a fan of one system over another.

[TnS]

http://www.n4g.com/industry...

[ktchong]

It's approved by the NewsBot, and it got approved fast... couldn't do anything about it.

[ktchong]

"According to Reuters, ..."

Reuters is here: http://www.reuters.com/arti...

Which has been submitted before here: http://www.n4g.com/industry...

[sumfood4u]

SE is kinda right,the Blu ray is awesome, but they need to focus on games an do movies once they average 1 PS3 in every 3 homes like the PSONE an PS2 did! than work on movies. I as well as many people want FF13 & VS, as well as another Final Fantasy~MMORPG. I hope they resolve their issues an get things going! For the love of Fianl Fantasy Fans make it happen!

[vidoardes]

Sorry, it got approved before I could delete it

[BIadestarX]

Sony: "We are sorry we are not available for games right now. Please wait until the format war is over."

[duarteq]

Sorry, we are sorry for not being capable of creating a console with a low defect ratio, a steer wheel with problems and power suply defective and also creating 1000 game clones for the console...

Now the real news. Obviosly Square-Enix wants all the markting for his games cause all know that when they launch XIII it will be a System Seller and if the information is correct and they do a remake of FFVII what will we think ? Everybody is buying PS3

-----------------------------
THIS IS LIVING - WAITING FOR GAMES, NOT CLONES

Just to had this info by the way :
Bioshock Xbox 360 Shooter
Medal of Honor: Airborne Xbox 360 Shooter
Halo 3 Xbox 360 Shooter
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Xbox 360 Shooter

Damn, where i have seen this ? ahh i know Xbox360 AKA XFPS

[MarioFromTexas]

You know how you xbots say Japan is not important....FF series is most important in japan than anywhere else. Xbot is dead in Japan that's why FF is PS3 exclusive other wise it would be multiplatform even if took 6 disks to put it on 360...BLue dragon only sold 150,000 copies that's not even enough to pay for the disks and marketing.

[SofaKingReetodded]

to fix your marketing as opposed to a FLAWED console design.

you're right Mario, xbots are so stupid they can't even see the tree branch stuck in their eye.

[mighty_douche]

i think not, these are all teething issues for sony, theres a long road ahead of us and sony will not lose interest just because of a few bumps along the way, i think everyone knows that next year is the make or break for playstation, and withh the list of AAA exclusives they have i dont understand how anyone can doubt that this time next year the ps3 will be massive...

people are so fickle now, one little hiccup and BAM! its over for sony.... pfft

edit @JokesOnYou, "so far you are the only one on this thread who has suggested sony is dead" dude did you even read what i wrote, i didnt say that, i said "i think not"....

[AllroundGamer]

yeah because those people don't see, that it's not a 100 meter sprint but more of a marathon... (well maybe for the xbox it's a 100 meter sprint ;) )

[JokesOnYou]

so far you are the only one on this thread who has suggested sony is dead, you're not worried are you? relax, I think most people, just like Square Enix think that sony's strategy is fk up atm, thats all, besides sony could continue to making mistakes ps3's whole life cycle and still limp there way this whole gen, same as micro= neither console is going anywhere, therefore niether one can be considered DEAD, the point is sony needs a change in their focus imo in order to beat micro.=

JOY

[tplarkin7]

We've seen this before with other consoles in the past. No console in history has launched at $499 and survived. It's also like the Saturn in that it's difficult to program. Now we see that it's losing in sales (thus repeating history). There is no good news in sight.

[mighty_douche]

"We've seen this before with other consoles in the past. No console in history has launched at $499 and survived"

ok which console was that then?
times change mate, 10 years ago people wouldnt be paying $3000 for a tv, but now many people are! consoles years ago where cartridge based and sold for $250 an d people bought that, ps3, hads DVD BLU-Ray CD's Internet Wi-Fi Bluetooth PlayTV (soon) Linux support Keyboard and mouse support etc etc

i still dont understand how people find the ps3 expensive, your all just tight ass's! look at pc's, i paid £450 / $800 on a graphics card, people dont complain about that! if the xbox and ps3 offered the same features, games, everything, id still pay more for the ps3, one because of relyablity (no RROD) and two, looks, i dont want an ugly white box under my glossy black HDTV and glossy black surround sound system.

[tplarkin7]

I agree that the 360 or PS3 is worth much more, but the mass-market calls for a cheap console. For some reason, $299 is the most that people are willing to pay. The Saturn was released for $399 vs the PS1 which was $299. The PS1 won even though the Saturn was supposed to win (like the PS3 is "supposed" to win.)

You say that times are different, but Sony isn't selling enough PS3s.

[Ravenator529]

Square Enix won't put the major Final Fantasy titles on the 360.

So why bother giving Sony bad press? You bash the system that you are staying exclusive with? That seems to make a ton of sense to me!?

Yes, I know that there are other platforms that have Final Fantasy games but we all know that the "major" Final Fantasy releases will never see the light of day on the 360. At least as of right now.

[mighty_douche]

if you lisrten to someone talk for long enough you can always cut out bits that support your arguement, im sure he didnt go out purely to bash the ps3, hes just being honest about what he feels, not a any point does he bad mouth the console its self, just sonys marketing of it!

[fredy]

Square as much as Square needs to sell its games. I'll bet you Square ha smore leverage there you fool, since it has alternative platforms to bring out its games, sony would be the one loosing out if anything on squares high-profile titles.

Square can say what it wants, and it is right.

Get your head out sony @ss will ya...

developers/games can make make the console. Square, Ubi, and EA are power players. If they were all exclusive to one console, the other would die a horrible death...

I bet you Ps3 phonies would turn your back on square, if they went multi with their big titles, just as bad as capcom. talk about fair weather gamers, you don't mean s#$t to developers, it business, and your a fanboy.

[Ravenator529]

How did you pick apart my post as for me being a Sony fanboy?

You people get so F'n jumpy around here! I don't even own a PS3! I have a 360, Wii, PSP, PS2, and DS. Are you happy now!

I just try to take an "unbiased" approach to the legitimate articles that are posted on this site.

And douche, I know he is bashing the marketing but all in all he is bashing the marketing dept of the system that he is going exclsive with. It's still all connected to Sony and the PS3.

His comments have given way for the media to put any sort of negative spin on Sony and the PS3. And to me, this doesn't make sense.

[mighty_douche]

dude i agree with your first post, im just trying to say that the press have a funny way of being able to twist things! anyway, all this will be forgot well before FF's release! i believe UT to be the beginning of sonys reign! in 2008 we'll see a big change...

[rev20]

Yet they still have there most prized titles developed just for the playstation 3.

Id take there comments with a pinch of salt cos there just contradicting themselves

[Meus Renaissance]

The price will be dropped before the new year and the games will be there by then. Let's judge the machine when it gets out of the starting grid because right now, it's got flat expensive tyres and no driver.

[N4GayFanturds]

P$3 only has two exclusives left (from PS2 era); FF series covering it's crotch and MGS covering it's arse. MS has stripped you from everything else.

This looks like Square Enix gearing up to put it's FF series (fully) onto 360, then all the world can see just how little your PniS 3 is.

Oh and MGS? That series reminds me of how Ubisoft treats GRAW. Did the old xbox have a MGS game? Yes. So, eventually, it will come.

[mighty_douche]

xbox WILL NOT get FF or MGS! MGS has be confirmed as exclusive a million times and if you did get it your looking at 2009 at the earlist, pfft ill be bored of it by then...
and FF has been built from the ground up on ps3 hardware so good luck getting that....
oh and killzone... think you'll find that was on ps2 mate...

edit @ DragunBallZ, nah got bioshock (and 99% of all other xbox exclusives) on the PC, running at 60fps at 1980x1080 max settings, safe to say much much better on pc! keyboard and mouse to.... why not fill me in on your future 'exclusives' that wont be avaliable on pc?

[N4GayFanturds]

Ya they said the same thing about Metal Gear prior to it going on the old Xbox. And yes, it did come a year later.

And who cares if you'll be bored of it when we DO get it. I was bored of Ninja Gaiden 3 years ago. Did that stop you Sony [email protected] from slobbering all over it?

And your precious Killzone 2 will become the next LAIR.

BTW Did you get your email out to 2K so you can beg to get a real game like Bioshock?

EDIT: Well, looks like your still paying Bill, no-matter-what then. Yea, I have one of my 360s set on a PC 24" monitor at the same settings (that monitor is shared by my Dell Vista Ultimate PC. I see no difference than on my 50" Samsung [email protected] BTW Bioshock on the PC and other PC versions of 360 games aren't as fullfilling w/o the achievement system. Maybe that's why Sony is trying to implement something similar into their bogus network.

[dinkeldinkse]

"Killzone 2 will become the next LAIR."I find that funny coming from a guy that copy his name after a show made for ten year olds.Even if you are right it won't matter because halo 3 will be disappointing fans in less than three weeks and that will be a way bigger story than killzone 2 being a bust.Next,E.T.anyone.

[PS360WII]

Well it could be tough, or the war could be over if the remake(and yes I mean VII) came out for PS3 only. Then it wouldn't be fair really

[paracardium]

Here we go lame xbots hoping for Sony games for their 3fixme. It's not going to happen especially since Star Ocean is now ps3 exclusive.. http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News... They wouldn't have done this if they weren't confident.

[witchking]

Well, thank God the PS3 has Star Ocean 4!! Should I run out to the store right now and slap $500 on a new PS3? Hell, for Star Ocean 4!!!

Yes, the above was sarcasm.

[Vertius]

You've obviously never played a Star Ocean game, and have no clue what you're talking about. This makes your entire comment null and void.

Good day, sir.

[witchking]

I played through a couple hours of the last one on PS2. I didn't find it compelling enough to complete. In other words, not everyone is so gripped by SO that they find its exclusivity a selling point for the system.

Now once PS3 has enough of these, then you've got an argument. But just Star Ocean? Don't think that's gonna cut it.

[reaperxciv]

in denial again

[Meus Renaissance]

As the Xbox 360 supporters would say, "here come the haters". Cue "PS3 is dead" comments, the "Sony fanboy" claims and so on. Never ending story here on N4G.

You girls here enjoy your time seeming big and arrogant on an Internet forum, I'm going out to see a movie - its a beautiful sunny day today here in London. Warhawk tonight, if anyone wants to add me my PSN ID is Starfleets.

[SL1M DADDY]

Could not have said it better, however, it is overcast today here in the US. ;-)

[eagle21]

It is safe to say that over 115 million people in over 120 countries know what you get when you put the word "Playstation" and the number "3" together. Microsoft has the brand awareness issue in many countries. Sony just launched an ad campaign I saw on ign.com and Computerandvideogames.com called "your PS3 can". This ad is so simple, it informs PS3 owners and casuals of the Blu-Ray capabilities in the PS3. They have lifestyle advertising coming in the fall of this year. Sony has stated that the initial marketing was for hardcore gamers, but the Playstation 3 is for everyone. Most of the first party PS3 fall line-up is T for Teen, not Mature like Xbox, so marketing will consider this. Retailers have already said that most consumers ask about Blu-Ray (all ages) than Hd-Dvd). The price tag of the PS3 is the only dilemma that consumers are having, but once Sony shows through marketing what you get in the box (at purchase) sales will double again. Go to amazon.com, Moms, Dads, College students, and children love what the PS3 can do. Once a 10 million userbase is established, word of mouth will be the best marketing. The average (non gamer)person could not tell you the specifics of Xbox live is or what is costs through Microsofts marketing. many are unaware of a virtual console through Nintendos marketing as well. Price is the factor for mass marketing advertisements. Price, price, and price. Retailers indicated that when Sony reduced the PS3 cost in July, people responded immediately, but questioned if it was the "real" one, if the reduced price kept all of the exciting features, which retailers assured it did. Square wants Sony to justify the cost through marketing. Sony has the best consumer awareness in the electronics business!

[PS360PCROCKS]

huh? You and your friends must live in a box than I have NEVER met a person who doesn't know what an Xbox is or what Xbox live is...I also think your a fuc*ing liar...every madden commercial and most multi-plat games are "For Xbox 360" at the end of the commercial, I am assuming you see that and go "Hmm wonder what that is" ? PLUS how could you not know what xbox live is, anyone I mean anyone who has anything to do with any videogame knows Microsoft brought online gaming to consoles, it was a huge selling point of the Xbox...so please shutup and stop lying.

[VirusE]

115 million and 120 million?!?!?! How many times does this need to be said. IT IS NOT 120 MILLION OWNERS, IT IS 120 units sold MILLION SOLD. Go to any game shop and ask for a used ps2 and chance are they have at least 20 in stock. The ps2 was an amazing system but not everyone is a brand loyal fanboy. I know more than a few ps 2 owners who have moved to the 360 or wii due to the price of the ps3.

[Maddens Raiders]

the _Bot brain puts itself throught the following histrionics:

A hint of neg. PS3 news? Hmmmm. Yummmmmm must taste first. I'll formulate a quip that garners the wonderful agrees of my like minded black-hearted friends. Ohhhh..I feel so good now, my day is made...I am a GOD. *looks at 360*

Hmmmm... I wish I owned a PlayStation 3 your games look so cool and smooth; *then makes wish to self - please don't start selling more PS3, please you can't, my _Box and I are tangible partners...if you hurt it, you'll hurt me and then I must hurt you more!!!!!.......don't hurt us again PlayStation! Must find more!...more!!......more!!!!! negative PS3 news Hahahaha..yes feel-ing bet-ter....now....must make first comment.....aggghhhh yes....come agrees...come....yes, my friends!!!! hahaha...We are hur-ting you PS3...together with my frinds WE will destroy you and protect our 360's!!! Hahahaha..... Ohhhh feel so much bet-ter now...yes.....fee-ling bet-ter. ahhhhhh
============================= =========

Quite sad really.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I had to laugh and agree but from experience your comment is more suited this way...

A hint of neg. 360 news? Hmmmm. Yummmmmm must taste first. I'll formulate a quip that garners the wonderful agrees of my like minded black-hearted friends. Ohhhh..I feel so good now, my day is made...I am a GOD. *looks at PS3*

Hmmmm... I wish I owned a Xbox360 your games look so cool and smooth; *then makes wish to self - please don't start selling more 360's, please you can't, my PS_ and I are tangible partners...if you hurt it, you'll hurt me and then I must hurt you more!!!!!.......don't hurt us again Xbox! Must find more!...more!!......more!!!!! negative 360 news Hahahaha..yes feel-ing bet-ter....now....must make first comment.....aggghhhh yes....come agrees...come....yes, my friends!!!! hahaha...We are hur-ting you 360...together with my frinds WE will destroy you and protect our PS3'S!!! Hahahaha..... Ohhhh feel so much bet-ter now...yes.....fee-ling bet-ter. ahhhhhh
============================= =========

Quite sad really.

[Bloodmask]

Bubble for you Madden.

[vidoardes]

That's really very Ironic, I have been labeled as a PS3 fanboy and an XBot within 2 hours.

Surely the two statements would suggest I am neither, no? Shows how wrogn a snap decision by a fanboy can be so very, very wrong

[Maddens Raiders]

Thanks guys...a think N4G has gotten a little TOO serious lately w/ the hate. Thought I'd add a little levity to the mix. Yeah my bubbles are on vacation.

Lost Prophet, I wasn't gunning for you at all, I don't know which system(s) you support, but nothing personal toward you man. Are you directing that toward me? lol a/w man great read.

Sony needs to sell more and more systems and the price needs to come down further. eagle21 has a good comment about the new ad campaign, but I personally believe that if SCEA puts out a good product in HOME, with a lower pricepoint for the 80 gigger (w/games) this could capture the hearts and minds of many. Look, they need to get somewhere in the $299 - $349.99 range w/ game included and this thing could really, & I mean Really soar. Of course they deny a real date set for HOME, no one but God in Heaven knows what they're going to do w/ the pricing, and the 'heavy hitters' don't come for a couple of months now -- so take what I just said cautiously. 8D

[Zhuk]

Just like Square Enix I too am worried about the PS3s terrible performance because it looks like it will be stuck dead last unless a miracle happens

[Meus Renaissance]

I just found this funny lol. Ah God have Mercy, it's not the best of times to be a sole PS3 owner

[eagle21]

get a life, I mean, Microsoft is only shipping to like 37 countries, hopefully that will change. Of course I know what xbox live is dummy, I stated that through their marketing, you can't tell whether it comes in the box, the cost, nothing. Silver, gold, what do you choose, do you need wi-fi? Like the virtual console, and Blu-Ray, there is a continued marketing presence to establish. Go to amazon, click 360, people will talk of the "hidden costs". Maybe I should have said the average person for your little heart. Grow up.....this is America, go to Brazil or South Africa, ask about xbox live or Blu-Ray!

[Naruto]

That's really very Ironic He talking PS3 marketing strategy and 360 fanboys take this as something about FFXIII

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

Star Ocean 4 PS3 exclusive.

[caffman]

Star ocean 4 anyway?

[Snukadaman]

I have no idea what star ocean is...let alone that they made 3 versions before......good catch ps3.

[Strife Lives]

I actually happen to be from South Africa, so stop acting stupid ans saying things that you obviously do not understand. we have gotten every console since the late 80's so ur argument on blu ray and xbox live is really stupid. we have both the 360 and ps3 but unfortunatly for Sony, lost this territory this gen. pretty much every1 moved to the 360, and buy stand alone blu ray players as we all feel like we got screwed over with the cheap dvd players in the ps2.and, after replacing my PS2 three times with disc read error problems I gave up on Sony. besides,we get ripped off on both consoles here, but especially on the PS3 where we pay close to 900 U.S dollars for, so to Sony screw them. I'd rather play GOW2 when its released than anything on PS3, then again.... only two games can lure me close enough to get a ps3...namely MGS4 and FF13...but believe me...sooner or later...its coming to 360. reason being? well...why do you think Square enix is complaining....their holding FF13 back for the ps3 to have a larger install base. but believe me...MGS4 and FF13 would look better on 360 anyway, even if FF13 is on 100 discs.

[Naruto]

He talking about PS3 marketing strategy not FFXIII

and wasn't 360 fans been saying that it will come to 360 since after E3 05

[AIZEN SOZUKE]

actually the ps3 is a supercomputer, square enix needs to study the hardware that cell is, and he will see that the ps3 is well more than a supercomputer, sony never called ps3 a console, and if square enix is trying to say that ps3 isnt capable of not maxing out, and performing all the things that they said it could and more, then why has square enix made a game that looks just like cg in the first year of ps3s life, and other ps3 games that look like movie cg also, all in ps3s first year, so please square enix, dont become another Valve, and Epic games

smarten up

[sanderFVCKINcohen]

Are you a developer? I guess not. If not, than STFU.
You have no idea what these developers go through, in
developeing a great title. Besides, they wont have any
problems makeing FF since ever1 is claiming its only
comeing to PS3.

[eagle21]

you make it sound as if I said South Africa is not progressive in gaming. America buys games in bulk, 16 billion dollars worth. The Blu Ray in PS3 is far from cheap, so I question your blu ray knowledge. You cannot speak for all of South Africa. It's great you enjoy your 360. How much is the industry for gaming in South Africa worth? I am talking marketing awareness, you are talking graphics superiority, which you will never know cause Final Fantasy XIII is exclusive.

[AIZEN SOZUKE]

actually, i dont remember the 180 being able to produce cg graphics in realtime, the ps3 is and always will be the only one capable of doing that, so this game would look like final fantasy mystic quest if done on the 180, get it strait strife

[jjfunaz]

Square Enix isn't saying ps3 is bad, they aren't saying that they are going multi platform, what they are saying is a simple fact. Sony's PS3 has not sold nearly enough for it their big games (read Final Fantasy) to be profitable. Currently there are 4.5 million PS3's sold world wide. Final Fantasy XII sold roughly double that, which a lower production cost.
This is the main reason why Final Fantasy XIII was delayed, and why SQUeenix is starting to get worries. With production costs through the roof, and a smaller isntall base then needed to turn a game profitable a lot of companys aren't going to make big budget games for one console. And also why they will go from exclusive to multi platform. Not beacuse they don't like one system.

[Naruto]

main reason why Final Fantasy XIII was delayed was the game wasn't finished they never gave a release date

[jjfunaz]

That may well be, but thats just my consiracy theory. I'm not totally rational I am after all a gamer

[JIN KAZAMA]

comparing the sales of the wii to the Ps3. Those 2 systems are not even in the same class. Its like comparing sales of a honda civic to that of a Lamborghini, and then saying, "ooh, the lambo is all done, no one is buying it.." You guys are the dumbest people on the net, leading the way for you idiots are the likes of
NoBizLikeBlowBiz. He is the biggest xbot zombie other than that fool baldstar.
PLAY B3YOND!

[power of Green]

"He's talking about PS3 marketing strategy", why is he doing that Naruto, WHY?. Is he talking PS3 marketing strategy because its fun or does he have games to sell that they spend a great deal of money on.

HA... HA... HA... HA... Haaaa- you people are comical.

[Naruto]

console marketing will=sales

Games=sales

FFXIII= $$$$$$$ (in japan and worldwide sales of the game)

[jackdoe]

Well, I agree the marketing of the PS3 is piss poor. I know what the PS3 is and can do but some people don't know anything. Sony needs to hire good PR guys. I haven't seen a real PS3 commercial in a long time. And those weirdo shorts with the russian guy and the gun were godawful. They need to dump the current PR guys soon. Oh, and they really need to shape up SCEE. From what I'm seeing they are getting the royal shaft.