• Square-Enix Confirms Layoffs, Denies Impact on MMOs

    by
    Raistlin
    Published on 12-17-2012 11:27 PM
    45 Comments Comments

    Amid rumors that layoffs had occurred at Square-Enix’s Los Angeles office and how they might impact current MMO games, SE’s Senior Director of Public Relations, Riley Brennan, confirmed yesterday that layoffs did occur, but that customers will not see any negative impact. Brennan emphasized that the decision to lay off some unknown number of employees “will not have any impact on the operations of MMO titles,” and that the upcoming launch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will not be affected. It’s currently unknown what specific departments lost employees, but Brennan’s assurances seemed to apply only to the MMO departments.

    The layoffs seem to corroborate last week’s report about the disastrous original launch of Final Fantasy XIV and its continued financial impact on Square-Enix. Hopefully the upcoming relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will allow the company to bounce back so that this trend does not continue.

    Source: Massively.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Square-Enix Confirms Layoffs, Denies Impact on MMOs started by Raistlin View original post
    1. Categories:
    2. Square-Enix,
    3. Final Fantasy XI,
    4. Final Fantasy XIV,
    5. News
    Comments 45 Comments
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder - 12-17-2012, 10:51 PM
      Why is the concern mostly for the MMOs? What about their other non-MMO projects?
    1. Futan's Avatar
      Futan - 12-17-2012, 10:57 PM
      Service vs product I guess?
    1. Raistlin's Avatar
      Raistlin - 12-17-2012, 10:59 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Del Murder View Post
      Why is the concern mostly for the MMOs? What about their other non-MMO projects?
      It looks like the original rumors suggested that the layoffs could impact MMO titles such as Wakfu and FFXIV. I don't know if SE was simply responding to those rumors, or if the layoffs really did occur in an MMO department (or both).
    1. Red Mage Coffman's Avatar
      Red Mage Coffman - 12-17-2012, 11:18 PM
      Well, MMO's make a crap ton of money if they are successful. So...

      Successful MMO = A crap ton of money

      Plus they'd be able to reap the profits of playing online every month. Not to mention expansions and such. If I'm not mistaken, FFXI is the most profitable game in the series so far due to, ya know, being an MMO. Plus they did let down a lot of people with the launch of this game, I imagine making up for it is important for their image.
    1. Dr. rydrum2112's Avatar
      Dr. rydrum2112 - 12-18-2012, 02:22 AM
      its to bad they wont affect the MMOs... then maybe they would go back to making good games.
    1. Jinx's Avatar
      Jinx - 12-18-2012, 02:29 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Dr. rydrum2112 View Post
      its to bad they wont affect the MMOs... then maybe they would go back to making good games.
      If it affects FFXIV, no, they won't. The company has already stated that if FFXIV: ARR flops, the company will most likely go under. Thus, jobs for no one, and no games for the fans.
    1. Depression Moon's Avatar
      Depression Moon - 12-18-2012, 03:50 AM
      I have a feeling it will. Like people say first impressions are the most important. People will still remember the launch and by the time it comes out people who might be optimistic about it will probably be too busy playing something else at the moment.
    1. Jinx's Avatar
      Jinx - 12-18-2012, 03:51 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Depression Moon View Post
      I have a feeling it will. Like people say first impressions are the most important. People will still remember the launch and by the time it comes out people who might be optimistic about it will probably be too busy playing something else at the moment.
      You have a feeling ARR will flop?
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder - 12-18-2012, 04:26 AM
      I don't think ARR will reach the top of the charts in terms of other popular MMOs like WoW or GW2, but I think it will end up turning a profit for SE and will redeem the original FFXIV for most.
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB - 12-18-2012, 10:23 AM
      If they were from the MMO department and they were related to the LA office, I can only guess that it would have been community support and/or the localisation team. Perhaps given that the number of people playing the MMO has decreased, the requirement for the former has lessened? Not sure really, but every company in the world is laying off staff it seems, so it's not really something that strikes me as unusual given the current climate.
    1. Yar's Avatar
      Yar - 12-18-2012, 01:30 PM
      If SE goes under, what would we really be missing in the end?
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB - 12-18-2012, 01:58 PM
      You're really asking that question at a Final Fantasy forum? Now, now, Neo. No trolling. >=P
    1. NeoCracker's Avatar
      NeoCracker - 12-18-2012, 02:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Loony BoB View Post
      You're really asking that question at a Final Fantasy forum? Now, now, Neo. No trolling. >=P
      The hell? Arn't I the only one people here called Neo? XD

      And mostly we'd be missing any of the bitchin' Non-FF games they now release.
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya - 12-18-2012, 02:30 PM
      If they ever release it for PS3 it'll turn a profit I'm sure. PS3 owners will be all over an MMO.
    1. Ouch!'s Avatar
      Ouch! - 12-18-2012, 02:48 PM
      I don't know about Wakfu, but development of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, even localization, is all done in their Tokyo offices. I don't know what anyone at the L.A. satellite office would be doing working on ARR, so I don't know how layoffs there would affect that project expect perhaps by reallocation of resources (which does not seem to be the case).

      What did Square Enix's L.A. offices even do? Were they anything other than a State-side localization (and maybe marketing) team?
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB - 12-18-2012, 03:06 PM
      Marketing, PR, probably service support (ie, GMs etc), stuff like that. Not sure about the finer details - Murd or Shlup have been there so they can possibly give you a better idea of the size of their office.

      Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Big Hands View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Loony BoB View Post
      You're really asking that question at a Final Fantasy forum? Now, now, Neo. No trolling. >=P
      The hell? Arn't I the only one people here called Neo? XD

      And mostly we'd be missing any of the bitchin' Non-FF games they now release.
      Urgh. This is why I hate name changes. Two people change names and I can never remember which has changed to which. You should both get reverted. >=[
    1. Bolivar's Avatar
      Bolivar - 12-18-2012, 04:02 PM
      I'm surprised this thing still hasn't come out yet. I'm guessing they're just waiting for the pandaria/guild wars 2 hype to die down? I played the original at pax prime 2010. They could've released final fantasy XV online instead.

      What's up with square redemption titles?
    1. Goldenboko's Avatar
      Goldenboko - 12-18-2012, 04:10 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Bolivar View Post
      I'm surprised this thing still hasn't come out yet. I'm guessing they're just waiting for the pandaria/guild wars 2 hype to die down? I played the original at pax prime 2010. They could've released final fantasy XV online instead.

      What's up with square redemption titles?
      FFXIV: ARR isn't a redemption title. It's a this MMO, NEEDS to be successful campaign. xD
    1. escobert's Avatar
      escobert - 12-18-2012, 04:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Tifa's Boobs View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Dr. rydrum2112 View Post
      its to bad they wont affect the MMOs... then maybe they would go back to making good games.
      If it affects FFXIV, no, they won't. The company has already stated that if FFXIV: ARR flops, the company will most likely go under. Thus, jobs for no one, and no games for the fans.
      Well maybe they should stop making MMO FFs with numbers in the name instead of just a friggen FF MMO and let the numbered games be the actual series.


      And there's other MMO's out there that offer the same stuff but don't cost monthly fees and have a larger userbase
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB - 12-18-2012, 04:29 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Bert View Post
      Well maybe they should stop making MMO FFs with numbers in the name instead of just a friggen FF MMO and let the numbered games be the actual series.

      And there's other MMO's out there that offer the same stuff but don't cost monthly fees and have a larger userbase
      You have it the wrong way around, Bert - They NEED to have them be numbered FF titles because it boosts interest, and they NEED the interest because they NEED the money. I'm sure if they could get just as many subs using an alternative title, they'd not have them numbered. But they know where the money is, and that's the numbered titles / MMO's, so mixing the two is a cash cow that can put them back in the black.

      Pretty sure there are no other MMO's out there that offer the same stuff as FFXIV for free. You'd have to name the games, dude.
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