Square Enix Archives

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I miss old PopCap like you miss old BioWare

From 2000 to 2010, PopCap Games dominated the casual gaming market, influencing the design of many subsequent mobile games. The studio's notable titles included Peggle Extreme, featured in Valve's The Orange Box, and Gyromancer, a collaboration with Square Enix. PopCap's games often drew inspiration from earlier concepts, such as Zuma from Puzz Loop and Bejeweled from the Russian game Shariki. After being acquired by Electronic Arts, PopCap shifted towards mobile and free-to-play models, leading to the decline of its original PC titles. Despite this change, the spirit of PopCap's creativity persists in the indie gaming scene, with games like Donut County and Peglin reflecting its innovative approach. Bookworm Adventures remains accessible through the Internet Archive, contributing to PopCap's lasting legacy.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

IO and Square Enix vet Flösser unveils new studio Wombo Games

Janos Flösser has founded a new game studio called Wombo Games in 2023, which is developing a strategy roguelike game titled Raiders of Blackveil, set to enter Early Access this summer. Flösser has a background in the gaming industry, having previously worked at IO Interactive and Square Enix. Wombo Games aims to remain small and agile, and has successfully raised funds three times since its inception. A playable version of the game was created within the first month and a half, garnering positive feedback from investors.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Metaphor: ReFantazio smashed Atlus’ expectations on PC – another reminder that PC gamers really want more JRPGs and Japanese games

ReFantazio has achieved unexpected success on PC, indicating a growing interest among PC gamers for Japanese titles. Katsura Hashino, the creative director known for the Persona series, noted that the percentage of PC players engaging with Atlus games is increasing annually, with long-term data supporting this trend. Major industry players like Square Enix are also moving away from console exclusivity, as seen with the successful PC port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Hashino emphasized the importance of allowing players to enjoy games in their preferred environments. Additionally, the lead UI designer of Metaphor: ReFantazio referenced a lesser-known PS2 title from 25 years ago, highlighting the ongoing influence of older games on modern design.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

Leading publishers found Accessible Games Initiative

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has launched the Accessible Games Initiative to improve accessibility in gaming by providing consumers with information on accessibility features in video games. This initiative is supported by major companies such as Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft, along with Amazon, Riot, Square Enix, and Warner Bros. It introduces 24 tags that highlight specific accessibility functions, including clear text options, subtitle availability, and flexible save features. ESA's president, Stanley Pierre-Louis, noted the initiative's goal to help millions of Americans with disabilities enjoy video games.

AppWizard

March 6, 2025

Final Fantasy 16 is the latest game to be freed from the shackles of Denuvo, though its 7-year-old predecessor still remains in DRM jail

Square Enix has removed Denuvo anti-tamper software from Final Fantasy 16, confirmed by SteamDB on March 4, just under six months after its release. This decision has been positively received by players, who often link Denuvo to performance issues. Publishers typically phase out Denuvo when sales decline and piracy threats lessen, which contrasts with Final Fantasy 15, still using Denuvo after seven years. The transition to a subscription model for Denuvo may have influenced Square Enix's decision. Denuvo's attempts to improve its image, including a Discord server, faced backlash and was locked due to negative feedback. Product manager Andreas Ullman noted the lack of evidence supporting claims that preventing piracy directly increases revenue. The impact of Denuvo's removal on Final Fantasy 16's sales remains uncertain.

TrendTechie

March 6, 2025

Final Fantasy 16 появилась на торрентах

Final Fantasy XVI's anti-piracy measures were removed with the release of patch 1.03, which eliminated Denuvo protection. This change was noted in the update notes on SteamDB and led to the game appearing on torrent trackers. The patch also fixed various graphical glitches and text errors in localizations, and introduced a portable version of the game, approximately 160 GB in size, that does not require installation and includes all expansions with Russian subtitles. The game's narrative follows Clive Rosfield, who seeks vengeance against the dark icon Ifrit after a tragic event involving his younger brother, Joshua.

TrendTechie

March 4, 2025

Final Fantasy 16 слили на торренты спустя полгода после выхода

Square Enix has released an update for the PC version of Final Fantasy 16 that removes the Denuvo anti-piracy protection, leading to the game being available on torrent sites with leaked versions around 150 gigabytes in size. Final Fantasy 16 was originally launched on June 22, 2023, for the PlayStation 5 and later for PC, currently holding a score of 88 on OpenCritic based on approximately 200 reviews.

TrendTechie

March 4, 2025

Final Fantasy 16 взломали и слили на торренты спустя полгода после релиза — помогло решение Square Enix

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TrendTechie

March 4, 2025

Из Final Fantasy 16 убрали Denuvo — игра скоро появится на торрентах

Square Enix has removed the Denuvo anti-piracy protection from Final Fantasy 16 with a recent patch, reducing the game's executable file size by 253 megabytes. This change may lead to the emergence of pirated versions on torrent sites, prompting players to avoid downloading from unverified sources. Final Fantasy 16, launched on PlayStation 5 in 2023, has received over 20,000 reviews on Steam, with 79% positive feedback, and is scheduled for a PC release in 2024.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

NetEase vet Ozawa founds Studio Sasanqua

Kenji Ozawa has founded Studio Sasanqua after his tenure at NetEase Games' Ouka Studio, where he worked from December 2019 until its closure in 2024. He is now the CEO of Studio Sasanqua and is funding the studio himself, emphasizing the need for a supportive environment for creators. The studio aims to integrate creative and management efforts for cohesive game development. During his time at Ouka Studio, they released the title Visions of Mana, published by Square Enix. An announcement video about Studio Sasanqua has been released.