Square Enix

Square Enix was born on April 1, 2003, when two long-time Japanese rivals, Square Co., Ltd. and Enix Corporation, merged into a single powerhouse. Enix had been founded in 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima, originally as a publishing company that ventured into games and defined the JRPG with Dragon Quest in 1986. Square, founded in 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto, was a computer game developer saved from bankruptcy by Hironobu Sakaguchi's Final Fantasy in 1987. The merger brought together these legendary franchises and their devoted fanbases under one roof, creating a global entertainment conglomerate.

Today, Square Enix operates through four main segments: Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Publication, and Merchandising. Its flagship RPG series, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, have sold tens of millions of copies and shaped the genre for decades. The company also publishes manga, runs arcades, and sells merchandise based on its iconic characters. In 2009, it acquired Eidos Interactive, adding Western franchises like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex to its portfolio, though it sold those studios to Embracer Group in 2022 for $300 million.

Square Enix positions itself as a premium brand focused on cinematic, single-player RPGs with emotional storytelling and high production values. Standard game editions retail at $69.99–$79.99. The company's brand identity is built on the promise of unforgettable stories, reinforced by the distinctive art of Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshitaka Amano. Under current president Takashi Kiryu, who took the role in June 2023, the company has announced a Reboots initiative to streamline development and expand multi-platform releases, alongside investments in AI and cloud technology. [edit]