‘Final Fantasy’ plunge may be just the beginning

Square Enix is on a streak of misfires in attempts to build another hit series to buttress sales, and it’s fallen behind rivals like Capcom Co and Activision Blizzard Inc in terms of market value. — Bloomberg

TOKYO: Square Enix Holdings Co has shed nearly US$2bil of its value since Final Fantasy XVI, the latest installment of its global hit series, came out to mixed reviews. Now investors wonder whether one of the games industry’s most remarkable runs is coming to an end.

The Tokyo-based firm has long relied on its feted franchise to supercharge growth, a formula that lifted its value five-fold in the decade leading to the launch of the latest Final Fantasy in June.