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Square Enix Reports Uptick in MMO Sales; Decrease in 'HD,' Smartphone, Browser Games for 1st Half of Fiscal Year

Square Enix released its consolidated financial results on Friday for the six-month period from April 1 to September 30. The report indicates that overall sales for the company as a whole were lower compared to last year, with 168.9 billion yen (about US$1.49 billion) in net sales compared to 172.7 billion yen (about US$1.53 billion) from last year.

The digital entertainment segment (for video games) fell overall compared to the same period last year, with 129.4 billion yen (about US$1.14 billion) in sales, compared to 142.4 billion yen (about US$1.26 billion) from last year. Digital sales in the segment earned 119.3 billion yen (about US$1.05 billion), and physical sales earned 10.1 billion yen (about US$89.51 million).

Sales for "HD Games," the company's label for its major platform game releases, were down to 39.5 billion yen (about US$350 million), compared to 57.9 billion yen (about US$513 million) last year. Smart device and browser game sales also took a minor hit, down to 62.2 billion yen (about US$551 million) compared to 63.6 billion yen (about US$563 million) last year.

Conversely, the MMO category grew compared to last year, from last year's 20.9 billion yen (about US$185 million) to 27.7 billion yen (about US$245 million). Square Enix stated monthly paying subscribers for Final Fantasy XIV "rose sharply" year-over-year.

The company's publishing business sales grew, with 14.1 billion yen (about US$124 million) compared to last year's 12.3 billion yen (about US$109 million). 7.8 billion yen (about US$69 million) of those sales were from digital storefronts, while 6.2 billion yen (about US$54 million) were from physical sales.

Square Enix also discussed in the earnings report that it is entering the NFT market and is thinking of entering into "blockchain games."

Square Enix was founded in September 1975 as Enix. Square was founded in 1983. A merger between Enix and Square was finalized in November 2002 after Sony acquired 18.6% of Square in 2001.

Source: Square Enix via @ZhugeEX