Square Enix to step up Western push

A report on the Financial Times says that Japanese publisher and developer Square Enix is looking for a US and European partner that can help drive its overseas sales to 50 per cent of its overall revenues in the next three years.

Michihiro Sasaki, SVP, told the FT that he wants to increase the firm’s share of the US gaming market, to offset slow growth in Japan.

"We need local content," Mr Sasaki said at the Tokyo Game Show. "Our strength is in role-playing games and fantasy titles, so it is a bit difficult to appeal to the US market."

The company hopes to secure a bigger product portfolio via "co-operation with a US publisher".

Around 10 to 20 per cent of Square Enix’s revenues come from overseas markets but "within two tothree years we want to make it half."