Square Is Shifting Strategy To Aggressively Pursue Multiplat Releases,Focus On Quality Over Quantity

Square Enix is shifting its strategy to aggressively pursue multiplatform releases and focus on quality over quantity.

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

Yup, it's official. FFXVI and FFVII Rebirth didn't sell as much as they expected.

[gold_drake]

read the report, where exactly does it say what u just said ? lol

[TheEroica]

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt for some gamers.... 🤣

[Barlos]

It's your interpretation. That doesn't make it 'official'.

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

- 1% increase in net sales compared to a year with Forspoken and Octopath Traveller II, which didn't sell more than 3 millions combined (and I'm being generous).

- A 38.3% decrease in operating income despite the release of 'High-Definition' titles namely FFXVI, FF Pixels Remaster, Dragon Quest Monsters, and FFVII Rebirth.

- Aggressive multiplatform strategy one year after saying that exclusivity with PlayStation was mutually desired.

Sure, it's all in my head.

[Sonic1881]

Probably for PC and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Square Enix games doesn't sell to well on Xbox

[Extermin8or3_]

Nothing sells well on Xbox that's precisely Microsoft's problem

[The3faces]

Apparently they don't sell well on PlayStation either.

[Lightning77]

Square named Drops Xbox as part of their multiplatform approach in their quarterly reports.

Like it matters MS will probably find away to close them down to.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I can see them going for PS5/Switch/PC for the most part, it'll mostly likely be the Switch 2 by the time their next game enters development, which is probably a good thing since the Switch is struggling with 3rd party games. If they're hurting for money/sales, I don't see them bothering with Xbox, that's just wasted time/money for them.

[DarXyde]

I mean, maybe? They'll want as much as possible and I figure they could have been hoping for greater impact on PlayStation, but that's good reason to reflect and realize the resources and development cycle of these games aren't very sustainable. The solution is to make more affordable games with shorter dev cycles, then once in a while bring out the big guns.

I think Final Fantasy VII Re make and Rebirth would do really well if it was multiplatform. Specifically, if Nintendo gets their hardware up to snuff, and the rumors are promising. I don't really have much faith in its performance on Xbox, but Nintendo gamers really commit to buying their games. At one point, Breath of the Wild for Switch outsold the Switch itself.

Granted, Zelda always solos everything except GTA, but Nintendo folk are avid Final Fantasy fans. I think it would do exceptionally. Nintendo just needs to make porting easy and inexpensive and they'll get more games.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I don't think the exclusivity hurts them as badly as they think, I think it's a range of factors, like the quality of the games, high sales expectations, ESG/DEI, censorship, development costs/time... I also suspect that Square-Enix is extremely inefficient with their resources, they struggled/avoided towns in the FF13 trilogy, and FF14 was mostly wilderness with little to do apart from derp about in the wild (they also avoid towns and making a lot of characters there too). But FF14 also went through development hell, I think Square-Enix just needs to overall how they do everything, because the way they manage that studio just isn't working.

[Christopher]

The two most profitable games for them didn't sell as much as expected. Yes. Make it make sense.

[MrCrimson]

I interpret it as - they want to be multiplatform, as they will sell more copies.

[TheEroica]

Ps5 has no games....

[EternalTitan]

16 isnt even a JRPG let alone a final fantasy game.
So glad that it bombed.

[itsmebryan]

Square finally realized what Sony figured out recently, their installed base is not enough. We are going to see a lot less exclusives from everyone moving forward.

[MajorLazer]

PS5 is nearly at 60 million only half-way through its life-cycle, but sure, the install base is not enough.

[EternalTitan]

Good exclusives always sell despite install base. Look at Nintendo's recent Zelda.
Its just 16 was awful.

[itsmebryan]

@major
It is not enough if it was Sony's operating income wouldn't be down 26% and the company would not have lost $10 billion of value after they missed their sales target .

[Christopher]

Looks to me more like they need multiplatform because they've been failing completely everywhere else. Honestly, Square needs to rethink it's non-FF games. They've been failing hard over there in that regard.

[CrashMania]

Hopefully the next Nintendo system isn't a potato and it can contribute to FF sales in future as well, in addition to PC releases. If this ensures the long term health for SE and franchises than like FF and KH then I'm all for it.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Adding Nintendo and PC customers is the best way to increase sales and long term success. Not going to get that from Xbox.

[shinoff2183]

Hopefully square brings all the lose switch exclusives over to.

[Hofstaderman]

Will there be a XBOX for Square to release games on? Or a MS Games service?

[thesoftware730]

Hof,

You must not have heard they are launching new hardware and have already committed to a Next-Gen Xbox.

But, for some reason, I think you already knew that and wanted to spin a silly narrative; besides, why wouldn't they release games on the SX/SS? You do know these consoles will still be here, right?

[Hofstaderman]

Optics. They have a STATED plan to do so. Thats not commitment. The shareholders and board are calling the shots now. Lets see if they have the appetite for hardware because they are owed 80 Billion Dollars already. Investment in hardware, R and D and marketing is how much again? That cost with the history of their hardware performance....at most maybe a handheld. What I am certain of XBOX is finished, the writing has been on the wall before the studio closures. Its MS Games and they are not hardware. They are software because MS is a software company. Expect them to be folded in the Surface team.

[DarXyde]

*hardware

I believe they committed to hardware.

I hate to nitpick, but that's kind of the company they are. You have to.

[Michiel1989]

@hofstaderman the board and shareholders have always called the shots or had a huge impact on decisions.

Xbox finished lmao, the writing has been on the wall? mate they just spend 70 BILLION dollars, and you see the writing is on the wall that they're done. 0 idea what you're talking about. They grafiti'd on the wall and you still can't see it.

[Aloymetal]

No to both, not worth the effort, money and time on an already dying brand.

[thesoftware730]

"They have a STATED plan to do so. That's not commitment."

Huh? What are you talking about? They announced they would be unveiling new Hardware this holiday season; how else are they supposed to commit to it?

" Lets see if they have the appetite for hardware because they are owed 80 Billion Dollars already"

What a silly statement, you think this deal was approved so they could make 80 billion in less than a year? This is a long-term commitment, a future-proofing of profit.

"What I am certain of XBOX is finished,"

No, you are not certain of this lol; as you stated, if they make even a Handheld in the form of a Steam-Deck that can dock to a TV/monitor, wouldn't that be just changing the form factor but still XBOX?

Closing these studios has really got you guys delusional; that is what happens in companies, in a changing market: you acquire, and you trim; like it or not, that is the way things are done. Lets look.

Where is the new Psygnosis with a new wipeout?
What happened to Japan Studio? Pixl Opus? London Studio?
Where is Zipper Interactive?

I can list more, but you see, closing devs doesn't mean your company is finished, especially when you have like 30+ dev teams.

[Extermin8or3_]

They won't be unveiling the hardware this holiday season it will be like the series x and s they got a tease at the game awards 2018. But no details until year of their release in 2020 lol

[Relientk77]

Please tell me the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is still coming. I feel like I've been waiting forever for that game.

[gold_drake]

i think the juggernauts kingdom hearts (disney provides the money for that one) final fantasy and dragon quest are fine, the rest not as much

[Michiel1989]

I'm kinda worried about the future of DQ though, Toriyama and the composer both passed away. Huge blow to the franchise.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

@Michiel1989,
Akira Toriyama had an understudy though, he emulates his style, so maybe he'll do the art for Dragon Quest games, I would love to see Nobue Uematsu do music for the series though, that could be fun if they could convince him.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I'll be so p*ssed if that doesn't go ahead, also, where's DQ12 at? They've been silent on that for so long, and it was announced years ago.

@gold_Drake,
I'm pretty sure they can siphon some profit from A Realm Reborn to keep FF and Dragon Quest going too. I think the company would have gone bankrupt if it wasn't for that cash cow.

[gold_drake]

14 is definitely brings in the a consistant cashflow

[Charal]

Another sign that dedicated consoles market is in trouble, while PC seems more and more attractive to big publishers.

Having a good gaming PC and a PS5 myself, given current trend form both Sony and MS I am less and less playing on PS5, waiting for exclusives to release on PC, so I understand the logic behind the new strategy.

[anast]

Post those numbers. Then your comment might make sense.

[thesoftware730]

Ants,

I get that we don't know exactly without numbers, but come on, man, we can clearly see what's happening.

The console market has not grown much, the highest-selling console in history is still the PS2. You can play the " prove it" game all you want, but Sony's more aggressive PC push, SE completely rebooting their company/business, after being mainly exclusive to one console and showing a sizeable profit loss is telling.

PC is a high seller, and your doubtful PS5 dominant stance does not change the clear writing on the wall, straight from Sony's mouth, that they need to be, and will be more aggressive in the very lucrative PC market.

So, in other words, PC market is indeed looking more and more attractive to Pubs.

[anast]

@730

Numbers?

I'm willing to bet the farm that ¨PC gamers are not the dominate number compared to console, but I don't know because I don't have numbers. However, the price point of entry can allow us to infer what I had just stated.

[Charal]

Here they are: https://hothardware.com/new...

[anast]

I don't click on links on forums. Tell me why that .com source is legit.

[Tacoboto]

What an ironic thing to say on a link-agreggate site like N4G. Explains your comment history perfectly.

[Michiel1989]

asks for numbers. receives numbers and then continues to say I don't wanna click a website (because it might shatter my illusion)

[anast]

@All the people with that good 'ol folk wisdom

It's ironic how I clearly asked for the site and people still can't even answer this simple question.

Tell me how many people click on random links on forums?

Tell me the site and I will look. I don't mind being wrong and I'm barely intelligent enough to change my mind with something substantial.

All the numbers I have seen is that PC doesn't even come close console gaming in revenue, and nothing touches mobile gaming. More people touching something doesn't mean anything. It just means more people own PC for work and touch Steam every now and again, those numbers mean even less.

[Charal]

Anast I wasn’t expecting more from you and I haven’t be disappointed.

Don’t believe any number if you want, but things cannot be more evident that most of games companies are pushing to get the most they can from PC market.

Hell, we have both MS and Sony that are releasing their biggest franchise on PC with no or less and less delay vs console release, that is never seen before in the industry.

What is surprising me is that PC is not cheap in term of hardware cost, a rig close to PS5/XBX perfs may be close to double the price I guess, and close to 4x for a good gaming PC.
Plus, PC gaming does not have physical release anymore.

So a lot of supposed advantages from console market are not there but PC market is successful anyway, it would be very interesting to understand it.
Maybe one big argument is that we are more likely to need a PC at home, were we can work with, browse, and game, than a dedicated gaming machine. That why handled console market have been crushed by smartphones, we could see a repeating pattern here.

[Babadook7]

From what I can ascertain PC is a smaller market than PS. There are occasionally times when PC looks to be stronger but overall it's still behind.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

PC also has a lot more competition, especially when people can easily buy and play older games from 20 or so years ago on it.

[anast]

PC has the potential to be a bigger player, but the market is smaller in terms of revenue nonetheless. People conflate sign up numbers with money spent on a product.

[anast]

You probably need to worry about yourself and your own expectations.

You still haven't even complete the simplest task in telling me the name of the website. Let that sink in. I asked for the name of the website so I can look at it and you couldn't even complete that task.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I understand it as pc is getting more popular since consoles are stagnating. Like consoles to need to compete with pc you know so everyone wins.

[JL2930]

How do you expect consoles to compete with PC's?

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Better services, better specs etc....

[jwillj2k4]

“ In addition, Square Enix will also pursue a shift from “quantity to quality” as its medium- to long-term philosophy.”

I got downvotes for saying this was the reason. Apologize to the masta.

[H9]

And you still get downvotes, after Sony this place get their hardest for Square Enix

[jwillj2k4]

It’s all good, I expected this 😂

[Sgt_Slaughter]

They released 18 Final Fantasy games or expansions in a four-year period, with at least six of them being related to Final Fantasy VII (this includes mobile and remakes).

That is entirely too many games and dilutes the brand.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

We really didn't need 2 compilations of FF7.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

They already tried a shotgun approach with quantity over quality, it clearly didn't work for them (remember all those games like Harvestella, Valkyrie Elysium, Diofield Chronicle, etc...). They should have focused on quality a long time ago, I feel like they haven't worried about quality for a long time, and it's hurt them in the long run.

[gold_drake]

Square needs a competent figure who can actually run a company.

[-Foxtrot]

Can we just have a VI, VIII and a IX Remake please

That’s all I want to see

[Battlestar23]

Excellent and also it's obvious that Square Enix is regretting taking Sony's money with the commercial failures of FFXVI/FF7Rebirth and are more willing to partner up with other companies that offer more money/sales.

I fully expect SE to break the contract with Sony and release Part 3 of the FF7 remake trilogy on Day 1 on PS/Xbox/PC/Switch 2 with the Switch 2 being the main platform for it to be developed on and than ported down/over to PS/PC/Xbox.

I also expect MS to start buying up the marketing rights on the FF franchise now with possible Day 1 game pass deals.

This news is great as exclusives are wrong and all games should be released on as many platforms as possible. Hopefully Sony will follow MS lead and release all their games Day 1 on PS/Xbox/PC/Switch.

[Elda]

Nope.

[StoneTitan]

They said on their financials that 16 had a strong performance. So I think you are just interpreting things here without any proof.

[P_Bomb]

“… with possible Day 1 game pass deals.”

They wanna sell more copies, not go outta business.

[andy85]

Part 3 won't even anywhere near Xbox. Even part 1 isn't. And I can't see it being on switch. The rumours are it's barely more powerful than the PS4. How is it running it

[terrorofdeath]

Finish up FFVII Part 3 then FFIX Remake please

[Kakashi Hatake]

No, go in order and do 8 first. 9 fans like to rewrite history and think 9 is more popular than it was. Just because you have the loudest fans doesn't mean you're the majority. 9 sold terribly in comparison to 7, 8, and X.

[shinoff2183]

Because 9 released at the wrong time. 9 is still the better game by a long shot. So 9 first

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

9 is always underrated, it never got the love it deserved, I do like 8, but I think 9 is overall a better game, even if I do remember the plot of 8 better.

[terrorofdeath]

Well done on assuming. I loved both 8 and 9, I just prefer 9 and would love to see it sooner than later.

Personal opinion > 'popularity levels'

[H9]

This will simply kill AA games while focusing on high budget AAA games, which are not performing well, I don't know what this place's obsession with imagining that FFVII rebirth and XVI performed well, but they simply didn't, and then you have the likes of forspoken etc, Square is not understanding that their decline started with enix and them switching their formulas, what they are trying to do here is pull a Capcom, but Capcom returned to repair the damage they did with their series while Square is just digging deeper

[VersusDMC]

So you want more games like Valkyrie alysium, Diofield, harvestella, left alive that bomb sales wise?

It's like saying you want Capcom to make more AA exoprimal type games and make less Resident Evil game...

[H9]

How about games like the ones you mentioned but actually good, how about that?

No not at all, it's like saying Capcom makes good Resident Evil games and good Ace Attorney/Okami games!

[VersusDMC]

That's what they say they are going to do. Less spreading out funding to too many games, outsourcing development to outside developers and not make FF tactics games like diofield and just make a FF tactics game. You can't just make a game good by waiving a wand like you seem to believe...

It's not going to kill AA games but there will be less due only going with in house development.

And the last ace attorney was in 2017 and there have just been compilation remasters done recently. Same with okami as okamiden was released on the DS. Are you saying you want Square to concentrate on remasters and AA remakes?

[H9]

No that's not what they are saying they recently said they will reallocate resources from HD remasters, and you just made up that they are making FF tactics, Square have said multiple times about their focus on AAA games and that's the trajectory of all big compajies, look at Sony and Microsoft, Square is clearly following that same trend!

2017 is not that far away for a series that was never in English unlike most Square games and Kunitsu Gami is a evolution from Okami, I am not saying Capcom is a saint, I despise things they do as much as the next guy, yet these two companies are now in the same approach, Capcom is trying but Square isn't

[GhostScholar]

They asked for this by not making ff 7 remake or 16 multiplat

[shinoff2183]

It'll be on pc but Xbox wouldn't have moved the needle. It's more the ps5 install base isn't as large as ps4s

[GhostScholar]

Even a digital release on Xbox would have helped for sure

[andy85]

Financially by having to make 2 new versions for 5-10% of sales? Probably not. PC would help massively though

[Giga_Gaia]

Another Xbox fanboy that want the games on his platform, but doesn't realize that putting said games on Xbox wouldn't help move the needle.

If FF16 and FF7R are considered failures, putting them on Xbox wouldn't have helped at all, since Xbox just doesn't matter anymore.

[GhostScholar]

Righhhttt

[Michiel1989]

if xbox doesn't matter anymore, why do people on here talk about it so much?

[maniacmayhem]

So much for the narrative of FF not being worth it being made for Xbox.

[CobraKai]

I mean, SE was heavy in multiplat back in the PS360 era. So it’s not such a big deal.

[Einhander1972]

The report does not say anything about being more multiplatform especially not in the way the article is implying which is to say that it's about Final Fantasy 16 and 7R.

It's ridiculous that this site is making up something which we all know is just an attempt to bump xbox.

The fact of the matter is that 95% of Square Enix games are already multiplatform, and games that are timed exclusive are multiplatform in essence.

The reality is that when PlayStation and Switch, PC are selling 95+% of the copies of SquareEnix games xbox is not even relevant. The fact is more games are skipping xbox that ever before not more moving to the platform.

Where are all the articles blaming SquareEnixs losses on the unsuccessful port of Final Fantasy 14?

[Petebloodyonion]

P. 9 of the report
https://tdnet-pdf.kabutan.j...

"Shift to a multiplatform strategy
For HD titles, the Group will aggressively pursue a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo
platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. Especially, in regards to major franchises and AAA titles including catalog titles, it will build an environment where more customers can enjoy our titles"
Read again: Especially, in regards to major franchises and AAA titles

I guess Square has not received the memo about YOUR reality.

[Einhander1972]

Pardon me, I didn't see this, I thought it was referring to the previous statement.

But still I reiterate my other points.

In the HD (High-Definition) sub-segment, consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024
---->increased<--- compared with the previous fiscal year due to the release of titles including
---->“FINAL FANTASYXVI,”<------ “FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER,” “DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince,” and ----->“FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.”<------

In the MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) Game sub-segment, net sales and ---->profits declined<---- compared with the previous year.

I'd also like to point out that according to the wiki SquareEnix has release 54 games since 2020 only 5 games were either exclusive or timed exclusive to PlayStation.

[Michiel1989]

refer to this yeah: "It's ridiculous that this site is making up something which we all know is just an attempt to bump xbox. "

Shows how deep in the hole you are, that anything that doesn't fit your narrative, you play off as xbox bumps.

[Petebloodyonion]

Yes, the HD department consolidated more net sales but you forgot to finish your sentence which explains the original claims so let me finish it for you.
"However, operating losses grew due to higher development cost
amortization and advertising expenses, as well as higher content valuation losses versus the previous fiscal
year."

As for MMO what are you trying to tell us? That a few months of FF14 on Xbox should have compensated for PC and PS gamers canceling their subs to a 10-year-old game?

As for your 54 games
How many of the 5 games exclusive to PlayStation are AAA?
Why must Square point out multiplatform strategy, especially in major franchise and AAA titles?

It seems that Square executives lacked your data before writing their reports and solutions.

@Michiel1989
I think you were responding to Einhander, not me :)

[Einhander1972]

"Yes, the HD department consolidated more net sales but you forgot to finish your sentence which explains the original claims so let me finish it for you."

So you're saying that the sales of the games which you're trying to say sold bad actually had higher net sales, interesting...

"As for MMO what are you trying to tell us? That a few months of FF14 on Xbox should have compensated for PC and PS gamers canceling their subs to a 10-year-old game?"

Game Pass's supposed 30M players who got a free starter pack to play the game couldn't even offset other minor downturns from the other platforms.

As for your 54 games
How many of the 5 games exclusive to PlayStation are AAA?
Why must Square point out multiplatform strategy, especially in major franchise and AAA titles?

The point is that if only 5 of 54 games were on PlayStation the narrative that this is being caused by PlayStation when SE themselves has repeatedly said that FF is selling well is false, the vast majority of exclusives have actually been on Switch.

The point is people are trying to point the finger at PlayStation but that is not what this is about.

Anyways want to talk about Microsoft's multiplatform strategy? Or the fact that other major publishers are pulling their games off xbox because nothing sells on the platform? SE can say whatever they want the press can manipulate it however they want, but the numbers show that PlayStation is consistently selling 80+ percent of the copies of multiplatform games.

I can guarantee that xbox is not the solution to anyone's game sales problems.

[Petebloodyonion]

"So you're saying that the sales of the games which you're trying to say sold bad actually had higher net sales, interesting..."

Care to find one time in all my comment history where I mentioned that Squares Enic games sold badly? gee the only thing I did was copy-paste the official report for your initial statement.

"Game Pass's supposed 30M players who got a free starter pack to play the game couldn't even offset other minor downturns from the other platforms"

You said it! gets a free starter pack on a game released in March now go back and read your quote "Net sales and ---->profits declined<---- compared with the previous year."
And please take the time to read the end of the fiscal year report.

As for the rest well give it a rest not everything revolves around Playstation versus Xbox
Last I check they mention Nintendo and PC.

[RNTody]

The interesting thing here is noting that Final Fantasy sales were in decline with FF15 already, yet it was one of the best selling games in the series with five million at launch and ten million lifetime. Almost 80% of sales were on PS4, meaning Xbox was a small market for the game. The game also released in 2016, three years into the generation where PS3 had been left behind.

In present day, Final Fantasy 16 sold 3 million at launch and was exclusive to PS5 after three years of cross-gen releases, which further slowed console adoption. I'm betting cross-gen is the likely problem here as Final Fantasy has historically always sold well on PlayStation, but the series has also seen a bit of a fall which was admitted by Square Enix.

Rebirth, even weirder story with Remake being on both platforms and one game being split into three. Fact is both Final Fantasy 16 and Rebirth are super high quality games, but there's more at play here.

Multiplatform is not going to change much, since so little sales were on Xbox for this series.

[kindi_boy]

AKA Playstation will lose exclusives from Squaresoft.
Common sense says didn't work well for them.

[CrimsonWing69]

Well, I hope this strategy works for them. It’d be a sad world with them out of it.

[HankHill]

Awesome news!

[z2g]

Lmao again just like I said they should do months ago…. Naturally to disagrees. Been a great month to keep be proven right lol.

[DOMination-]

I don't get it... Doesn't the cash from Sony to help develop the game and keep it exclusive not cover the "sales" it would have got from being on Xbox?

[P_Bomb]

Square Enix has been complaining about sales for generations now. Their projections are always head in the clouds. Always wanting more. .

[babadivad]

Should have done this from the very beginning.

[Reaper22_]

Xbox gamers rejoice. Bring it on Square!

[EternalTitan]

16 bombed Good.

[wesnytsfs]

Was always silly for any 3rd party developer to go exclusive on any platform with the rising costs of game development these days. The end result is better for all gamers we all get their games now.

[Nerdmaster]

Although I didn't like FFVII Remake, I probably would've bought Rebirth if it was released on PC, simply because I'm a sucker for hype. But since I don't have a PS5, I did not buy it, and when it finally will be released on PC, hype will be dead and I probably won't buy it at all. Especially since if they do it like Remake, which was exclusive to Epic for like a year, I will be even less interested in it when it finally gets released on other storefronts.

Also, they need to rethink their pricing on PC. I was interested in a few games from them, but the prices are outrageous for PC standards. It's clear they don't want their PC versions "competing" with their console versions, but the only thing it does, is make people see how expensive the games are, and just deciding not to buy them.

[Goodguy01]

Eh. I suppose we'll see how they do? Many of their smaller games are very hit or miss . Octopath I just couldn't bring myself to play very far and the bravely default games put me to sleep. I am interested in triangle strategy, live a live and harvestella...but at really reduced prices on sale. The new mana game looks ok. I do hope they continue with Nier/Drakengard and dragon quest too ofc. Remaster hd2ds like star ocean 2's are still welcomed.
And please square...less mobile...please.

[hiawa23]

Game costs seems to be through the roof this gen, so put the games on as many platforms as possible cause if they are not recouping their costs on the PlayStation to the point they are even suggesting going multi-plat that is really saying something. Getting your games in the most hands to me seems to be a win for gamers, a win for devs, and could solve many issues.