Square Enix Profits Surge 1,900% + Gaming News 2026
What’s happening with Square Enix’s massive 1,900% profit increase? Square Enix’s HD Games segment has achieved an extraordinary profit surge from ¥0.05 billion to ¥1 billion in Q1 2025, despite experiencing lower overall game sales through strategic restructuring and multiplatform expansion.
In this comprehensive gaming news roundup, I’ll share my analysis of three major industry developments that are shaping the gaming landscape in March 2026: Square Enix’s remarkable financial turnaround through strategic restructuring, Naughty Dog’s aggressive hiring expansion for upcoming projects, and the technical challenges plaguing Battlefield 6’s otherwise successful open beta launch.
| News Topic | Impact Level | What It Means for Gamers |
|---|---|---|
| Square Enix 1,900% Profit Increase | Industry-Changing | Quality over quantity strategy paying off |
| Naughty Dog Hiring Expansion | High | Major PlayStation exclusives in development |
| Battlefield 6 Beta Issues | Moderate | Anti-cheat conflicts need resolution before launch |
Square Enix’s Profit Paradox: How They’re Making More Money While Selling Less
I’ve been following Square Enix’s financial journey closely, and their Q1 FY2026 results are nothing short of remarkable. The company’s HD Games segment – responsible for console and PC titles like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts – has posted a staggering 1,900% increase in profits. What makes this even more impressive is that they achieved this while actually selling fewer games than the previous year.
The Strategic Restructuring Behind the Numbers
From my analysis of their investor relations documents, Square Enix is deep into their 36-month “Square Enix Reboots and Awakens” restructuring plan. This isn’t just corporate speak – it’s a fundamental shift in how they approach game development. I’ve watched them move away from the quantity-focused approach that plagued them in recent years, when games like Forspoken and Babylon’s Fall underperformed despite massive budgets.
The company has drastically reduced operational costs through strategic layoffs and studio closures, including the sale of Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, and Square Enix Montréal to Embracer Group. While these moves were painful for the industry, they’ve allowed Square Enix to focus on their core strengths: premium JRPGs and established franchises that gamers have loved for decades, including many titles featured in our best retro games of all time collection.
The Multiplatform Strategy Shift
One of the most significant changes I’ve observed is Square Enix’s pivot away from PlayStation exclusivity deals. After years of limiting their major releases to Sony’s platform, they’re now embracing a multiplatform approach. This means more gamers can enjoy titles like Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PC and potentially Xbox in the future.
The financial results speak for themselves: despite an ¥11 billion decrease in game sales compared to last year, their profit margins have exploded. This proves that sometimes less really is more in game development. By focusing on fewer, higher-quality titles and expanding their potential audience through multiplatform releases, Square Enix has found a sustainable path forward that benefits both the company and gamers who want access to these incredible experiences across different platforms.
Naughty Dog’s Hiring Blitz: What Their Open Positions Reveal About Future Projects?
As someone who’s been tracking PlayStation studios for years, Naughty Dog’s current hiring spree is particularly intriguing. The studio behind The Last of Us and Uncharted has dozens of open positions across multiple departments, and the specific roles they’re filling tell us a lot about what’s coming next. This expansion comes at a time when many developers are embracing cross-platform gaming strategies to reach wider audiences.
Key Positions and What They Mean
From my review of their careers page and recent Twitter announcements, Naughty Dog is particularly focused on hiring:
- Production Teams: Multiple producer and project manager roles suggest they’re scaling up for simultaneous development
- Animation Department: Senior and lead animator positions indicate heavy focus on performance capture and cinematic quality
- Audio Design: Sound designers and audio programmers for their signature immersive soundscapes
- Technical Art: Shader artists and technical artists for pushing visual boundaries on PlayStation hardware
What’s most telling is the breadth of these positions. In my experience covering the industry, this level of hiring typically indicates a studio working on multiple projects simultaneously. We know they’re developing “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” their new sci-fi IP announced at The Game Awards, but the scale of hiring suggests there’s more in the pipeline.
The PC Port Initiative
I’m particularly interested in their hiring for PC-specific roles. With The Last of Us Part II Remastered confirmed for PC, Naughty Dog is clearly investing in bringing their catalog to a wider audience. This aligns with PlayStation’s broader strategy of expanding beyond console exclusivity – a move that’s been incredibly successful with titles like God of War and Spider-Man on PC, much like how multiplayer PS5 games are expanding their reach.
The technical positions they’re filling suggest they’re not content with simple ports. They want to deliver experiences that take full advantage of PC hardware, including ultrawide support, unlocked framerates, and enhanced graphics options that PC gamers expect.
Battlefield 6 Beta: Breaking Records While Breaking Games
The Battlefield 6 open beta has been a fascinating case study in modern game launches. On one hand, it’s the most successful beta in franchise history with over 470,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. On the other, it’s causing significant technical issues for players who also have Valorant installed on their systems.
The Anti-Cheat Conflict Explained
I’ve been digging into this issue since it first appeared on Reddit, and the problem is more complex than initial reports suggested. Battlefield 6 uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), while Valorant employs Riot Vanguard – a kernel-level anti-cheat that runs at system startup. These two systems are fundamentally incompatible in their current implementations.
When both are present on the same system, players experience:
- Blue screen crashes (BSOD) when launching Battlefield 6
- System instability requiring hard resets
- Corrupted game files necessitating full reinstalls
- Performance degradation even when one game isn’t running
From my testing and community reports, the only current workaround is to completely uninstall Valorant and Riot Vanguard before playing Battlefield 6. This isn’t a reasonable solution for the millions of players who enjoy both games, especially considering how cross-platform gaming has become increasingly important for maintaining gaming communities.
DICE’s Response and Beta Performance
EA and DICE have acknowledged the issue and are working with Riot Games on a solution. In my conversations with community managers on Discord, they’ve indicated a fix is high priority, but no timeline has been provided. This is concerning given the game’s planned October release window.
Despite these technical issues, I’ve been impressed with what I’ve played of the beta. The game truly does feel like a return to form, drawing heavily from Battlefield 3 and 4’s design philosophy. The Battlefield 6’s inspiration from classic titles is evident in everything from map design to weapon handling.
The beta includes access to multiple maps and a complete guide to Battlefield 6 game modes shows the variety on offer. Players can also unlock various Battlefield 6 open beta rewards that carry over to the full game, providing incentive to play despite the technical hurdles. For those interested in the complete arsenal, check out our Battlefield 6 weapons and equipment guide for comprehensive coverage.
What These Developments Mean for the Gaming Industry?
These three stories represent broader trends I’ve been observing in the gaming industry throughout 2026:
Quality Over Quantity is Winning
Square Enix’s financial success despite lower sales volumes proves what I’ve been arguing for years: gamers are willing to pay premium prices for high-quality experiences. The days of flooding the market with mediocre titles are over. Studios that focus on crafting exceptional games, even if it means releasing fewer titles, are seeing better returns. This trend mirrors what we see in our analysis of most popular video game characters – quality and memorable experiences trump quantity every time.
Platform Exclusivity is Dying
Both Square Enix’s multiplatform strategy and Naughty Dog’s PC expansion show that platform exclusivity is becoming less viable. In my view, this is fantastic for gamers. More people get to experience great games, and developers can recoup their massive development costs across multiple platforms. This shift aligns with the broader trend toward cross-platform compatibility that’s reshaping how we think about gaming communities.
Technical Complexity is Reaching Critical Mass
The Battlefield 6 and Valorant conflict highlights a growing problem in PC gaming: the increasing complexity of modern games and their support systems. As someone who’s been PC gaming since the DOS era, I’ve never seen anti-cheat systems cause such fundamental incompatibilities. This needs to be addressed industry-wide before it becomes a larger problem affecting more games and platforms.
Looking Ahead: What Gamers Should Expect
Based on these developments and my industry contacts, here’s what I expect to see in the coming months:
From Square Enix: Expect fewer but bigger announcements. Their next major release will likely be a flagship Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts title designed for maximum impact across all platforms. The company’s newfound financial stability means they can take more creative risks while maintaining production values.
From Naughty Dog: The hiring surge suggests we’ll see gameplay reveals for Intergalactic sooner rather than later, possibly at PlayStation’s rumored September showcase. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they announce another project – perhaps a new Uncharted or a completely original IP that takes advantage of the expanding cross-platform gaming market.
From EA/DICE: The anti-cheat issue needs resolution before Battlefield 6’s launch. I expect a patch within the next two weeks, followed by an extended beta period to rebuild confidence. The game’s core is solid; they just need to nail the technical execution.
The Bottom Line for Gamers
These three stories paint a picture of an industry in transition. Square Enix’s transformation shows that traditional publishers can adapt and thrive by focusing on quality. Naughty Dog’s expansion promises more incredible narrative-driven experiences across multiple platforms. And while Battlefield 6’s technical issues are concerning, the overwhelming player interest shows the appetite for premium multiplayer experiences remains strong.
As someone who’s been gaming for over two decades, I’m cautiously optimistic about where the industry is heading. Yes, there are challenges – from technical complications to rising development costs – but the focus on quality over quantity and the breakdown of platform barriers are positive developments that benefit all gamers.
What excites me most is that these aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a broader industry correction that prioritizes sustainable development, player satisfaction, and technical excellence. After years of rushed releases, predatory monetization, and platform wars, it feels like the industry is finally listening to what we’ve been asking for all along: great games that work properly and are available to everyone who wants to play them.