Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu outlined an ambitious agenda of aggressive AI integration within the company's development and publishing efforts in a bold proclamation for the company's future.
The New Year's Letter from Kiryu, who took over as Square Enix president in June 2023, revealed a strategic shift toward leveraging cutting-edge technologies for transformative innovation.
Square Enix AI Plans
As VGC reports, Kiryu's letter emphasized a fundamental shift brought about by AI, citing the meteoric rise of generative AI programs such as ChatGPT.
He pointed out not only their potential to reshape creative outputs but also to revolutionize the processes that underpin game development, even hinting at AI's role in programming itself.
"In the short term, our goal will be to enhance our development productivity and achieve greater sophistication in our marketing efforts," Kiryu expressed, underlining the immediate aims.
However, the company's sights are set on a horizon far beyond mere optimization to leverage AI and similar technologies to create game-changing new content, identifying technological innovation as fertile ground for business opportunities.
This commitment to AI heralds a radical transformation, mirroring Square Enix's proactive approach to staying ahead in an ever-evolving industry.
Kiryu envisions AI's integration not as an isolated tool but as a linchpin in streamlining the synergy between development and publishing teams, fostering global collaboration, and propelling the shift towards digital domains.
AI and Blockchain?
IGN reports that the president's letter also reiterated the company's resolute investment focus, pinpointing Blockchain entertainment/Web 3.0, AI, and the Cloud as the primary areas for strategic development.
To optimize resource allocation, Square Enix gears up for organizational restructuring, aligning its structure to support these pivotal endeavors.
Amidst this strategic shift, Kiryu's address didn't dwell solely on the future. It included references to the company's past president, Yosuke Matsuda, who highlighted their commitment to Blockchain technology in the previous year's letter.
Additionally, the letter indirectly nodded at industry trends, mentioning Xbox's partnership with Inworld to build AI dialogue and narrative tools.
What's Next?
Notably, while Kiryu's letter articulated Square Enix's overarching strategy, it refrained from delving into specific AI implementations for game development. However, insights from the Final Fantasy 7 Remake's co-director shed light on previous AI tools used for character animation and lip-syncing.
Xbox's CFO, Tim Stuart, further reinforced the potential of AI in gaming during the Wells Fargo TMT Summit. He vividly illustrated how AI could transform game development, from simplifying localization to revolutionizing game testing.
Beyond the promises of AI integration, Square Enix's bustling release schedule for 2024 and beyond teases fans with many upcoming titles. From the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, gamers can expect an exciting lineup of experiences soon.
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