Square Enix will ramp up use of AI tools in game development this year

Square Enix is gearing up for 2024 with a strategic shift towards AI technologies, following the previous year's investments in blockchain and NFTs. CEO Takashi Kiryu highlighted the company's focus on AI tools for content creation, which shouldn't be too surprising considering how bullish Square Enix usually is when it comes to new technologies. 

The AI industry witnessed significant growth in 2023, prompting Square Enix to aggressively integrate these technologies. Kiryu stated, “Our goal will be to enhance our development productivity and achieve greater sophistication in our marketing efforts.” The long-term vision involves leveraging AI for creating innovative content, recognising the inherent business opportunities in technological advancements.

Regarding blockchain, Kiryu mentioned ongoing efforts and a focus on three key investment fields: blockchain entertainment/Web 3.0, AI, and the cloud. Square Enix is actively adjusting its organizational structure and resource allocations to support these initiatives.

Elsewhere in the letter there are also hints at Square Enix expanding its multi-platform efforts once again, something that has taken a bit of a back seat for recent major games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its upcoming sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as well as Final Fantasy 16, which is currently still a PS5 exclusive. Smaller titles, like Octopath Traveler 2, were released across Nintendo and Sony platforms, as well as PC, while skipping Xbox. We hope to see Square Enix targeting Xbox and PC growth in the year ahead, starting with the launch of Final Fantasy 14 for Xbox later this year.

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KitGuru Says: AI tools are being used in all kinds of industries now and we should expect big publishers like Square Enix to show interest in utilising them. Still, the industry needs to be careful not to cut out creative voices in the process. 

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