The Identity Crisis Behind Final Fantasy's Sales Slump

The recent news that Square Enix's Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have missed their sales targets is not surprising to many in the industry. This outcome was predictable, given the company's history of overestimating its game sales. The problem lies not with the games themselves, but with the management of the Final Fantasy brand as a whole. The series has lost its sense of identity and purpose, and its attempts to reinvent itself have been met with mixed results. Games like Final Fantasy 15 and 16 have deviated from the series' legacy, leaving fans feeling disconnected and uncertain about the direction of the franchise. The decision to make these games exclusive to the PS5 has also limited their sales potential, but it is not the primary cause of the problem. The real issue is that Square Enix has failed to understand its target audience and has instead tried to appeal to a broader market, sacrificing the series' core identity in the process. The success of other JRPGs, such as Persona and Like a Dragon, suggests that there is still a market for games that stay true to their genre roots. Square Enix would do well to take note of these examples and refocus its efforts on creating games that appeal to the series' core fanbase, rather than trying to chase mainstream success. By doing so, the company can revitalize the Final Fantasy brand and restore its former glory.