Operation Backlog Completion 2024
May 262017
 

Today, Square Enix set the Internet on fire with a financial briefing in which they outlined their future plans.

This outline included three games planned for “FY2018/3 and beyond,” Kingdom Hearts 3, the Final Fantasy VII Remake, and a Marvel game. They “plan to launch each of these upcoming titles in the next three years or so.”

Somehow, fans have taken this to mean Kingdom Hearts 3 and the Final Fantasy VII Remake won’t be out for three years.

But that’s not what Square Enix said at all!

First, these are their plans starting from fiscal year 2018. That means games on the slide could be released in 2018.

Second, these games will be released “in the next three years or so.” In other words, they’ll be released within three years, not necessarily three years from now.

Finally, the slide refers to “a robust pipeline from which 1-2 blockbuster titles as well as multiple mid-size titles are constantly launched every year.” If they hope to release 1-2 blockbuster titles every year, it makes sense that the blockbuster titles listed on the same slide could be among them.

In short, Square Enix did NOT say we have to wait 3 years for Kingdom Hearts 3 or the Final Fantasy VII Remake (or the Marvel game). This news does NOT mean these games won’t be out until then.

Instead, it means these games should be out in 2018, 2019, or 2020. One could come out each of those three years, even.

Update: According to DualShockers, a more accurate translation of the Japanese statement is: “We plan to launch them sequentially over the next three years or so.” That makes the one-per-year scenario even more likely.

Many people have chosen to interpret this announcement in the most pessimistic way, but I don’t think that’s how it was intended. I know I’ve been mistaken before (I never expected Final Fantasy XV’s structure would be so odd), but there’s no need to panic. This news doesn’t rule out a 2018 Kingdom Hearts 3 release date by any means.

I hope Square Enix provides more information at E3, maybe even with more specific windows for their upcoming games. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even get a solid release date.

  8 Responses to “Square Enix Did NOT Say We Have to Wait 3 Years for KH3”

  1. Oh hey you’re trying to debunk Fake News now!

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