Microsoft Explored A Square Enix Acquisition In The Past
Microsoft considered acquiring Final Fantasy maker Square Enix to develop titles for Game Pass, PC, and Xbox.
By Jess Reyes on
Microsoft's trial with the Federal Trade Commission might change Xbox's place in the gaming industry as we know it, but that's not all that the case revealed over the past few days. As reported by Bloomberg, documents included in the FTC's antitrust suit against Microsoft revealed that the company considered acquiring Square Enix in 2019.
We’re delighted to announce we’ve shipped and digitally sold 3 million copies of Final Fantasy XVI on PlayStation 5. Thank you for your support! #FF16 pic.twitter.com/8YGfo1RXyV
It's no secret that Microsoft has been hunting for game-changing exclusives for Xbox Game Pass. Its attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard is just one example of its efforts. According to Bloomberg, separate documents revealed that Microsoft also considered acquiring Bungie and Sega. These were just some of the most significant developers that the company explored in its quest to bring more customers to Game Pass, PC, and Xbox.
Square Enix is currently one of Sony's most prominent partners. Sony and the Final Fantasy maker have enjoyed years of exclusives between the two, including the recently released Final Fantasy 16. Its latest exclusive just sold 3 million copies in its launch week.
Microsoft started strong with Hi-Fi Rush at the beginning of the year, but the lineup of exclusives has been sparse in the months leading up to Starfield. In short, Microsoft's place in the console market could've been drastically different with Square Enix in its roster.
The FTC filed an injunction against Microsoft earlier this month before it could finalize its deal with Activision Blizzard on July 18.
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