Square Enix has an 18 month post-launch plan to increase the sales of its latest entry in its long-running RPG series, Final Fantasy XVI.
Speaking during the latest episode of Weekly Ochia’s talk show, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida stated that publisher Square Enix has an 18 month post-launch plan to increase the game’s sales.
In response to a question regarding Square Enix’s approach to sales, specifically in terms of generating profits, Yoshida stated that when it comes to the final product, he prepares a detailed budget documentation that includes information such as the platforms the game will be released on, the total development costs, marketing and PR expenses, and the projected profits. These details are crucially important and are included in the documentation. However, he admitted that he won’t be paying much attention to the first-week sales of Final Fantasy XVI.
Responding to another question regarding the publisher’s approach to the post-release sales plan and how it will adapt to changes in player behavior in terms of marketing strategy, Yoshida said that sales extension can vary from country to country. With respect to Japan, he gave the example of the recently released movie, Slam Dunk. Fans of the show were highly interested in it, but there were doubts and concerns during the promotional phase. However, once fans watched the movie, they enthusiastically recommended it to others, generating positive word-of-mouth. This kind of attraction created by word-of-mouth is still a powerful tool in PR today, he said.
Furthermore, Yoshida mentioned that he focused on communicating how the game was developed and released, going back to the fundamentals. If people find the game interesting, streamers from around the world who play it will express their opinions. The more positive voices are heard, the more likely it is to encourage those who have yet to purchase the game or even the PS5, the platform it is exclusively available for. He added that he’s noticed younger generations are less concerned about release dates and more influenced by what’s popular within their communities and what everyone is playing. According to him, this trend is evident in games like Apex Legends and Fortnite, and it’s something he considers in his approach.
Yoshida estimated the budget and planned the release of Final Fantasy XVI, and created a simple strategy to encourage series purists and newcomers alike to purchase the game along with a PS5. Consequently, he developed a sales plan that spans about 18 months. He added that it’s important to note that the ownership ratio for a PS5-only title is lower, especially when compared to games released for both PS4 and PS5.
