Profits up 68% at Square Enix

Square Enix has reported an operating income of YEN 21.4bn for the nine months ending December 31st 2009, a jump of 67.7 per cent year-on-year.

Net sales for the period were up 30.0 per cent at YEN 135bn.

Its games operations in isolation saw net sales jump 97 per cent to YEN 73bn and operating income climb 99 per cent to YEN 18bn.

Releases in the period included Final Fantasy XIII, Dragon Quest IX, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Kingdom hearts 358/2.

Square Enix has also announced that it is to consolidate its online and offline gaming operations under a single corporate ‘Games’ segment and form a brand new Merchandising segment.

For the full year ending March 31st the publisher’s forecasts remain unchanged, with net sales of YEN 180bn and operating income of YEN 25bn predicted.