Square Enix is overhauling its development process to improve game quality

Square Enix is conducting a fundamental review of its development process, in an attempt to improve the quality of its games.

As reported by Bloomberg, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu made the announcement during the company’s financial results briefing on Monday.

During a conference call, Kiryu reportedly said: “We are reviewing from scratch what the organisational structure is, and what the best way is to implement the contents of the pipeline.”

Kiryu also reportedly said the new structure would be detailed more in spring, but according to a number of securities analysts cited by Bloomberg who were present on the call, the new structure will reportedly be in operation from April.

The publisher is reportedly keen to reduce the amount of development it outsources to external studios, and wants to focus on in-house development for its more high-profile titles, with the aim being to increase both quality and profit margins.

Accoding to the securities analysts talking to Bloomberg, the new development process will include a new checking mechanism that will let the company make decisions on a game’s quality at an earlier stage of development.

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Square Enix has lost nearly $2bn in market value since Final Fantasy 16’s release

Employees and analysts express concerns about its development structure and quality control

Last August the publisher’s share price dropped by nearly 15% following an earnings release during which Kiryu reportedly cited the launch of Final Fantasy 16 as one of the reasons for its underwhelming results.

The publication cited three separate sources who attended Square Enix’s post-earnings call, all of whom claimed Kiryu said the game’s initial sales, in Bloomberg’s words, “did not meet the high end of the company’s expectations”.