Square Enix

Square Enix has launched Drakengard 3 yesterday in North America and today in Europe. In this prequel to the original Drakengard you play as Zero, the eldest of six "Intoner" sisters who wield special magical abilities. Zero is on a quest to murder her five sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail.

Drakengard 3 is now available in a normal version and a collector's edition In North America. Europe have to do with a download version only (they did release a CE here, but with a download voucher ...). You can watch the launch trailer of the game which Square Enix revealed today.

Square Enix has announced in the new trailer of Drakengard 3 that the game will be released in North America on 20 May and in Europe and other PAL territories a day later (on 21 May). Next to the physical copy of the game North America will receive a collector's edition and bonus items when pre-ordering the game. Europe will have to live with a digital download of the game only which disappoints a lot of fans. Since the PlayStation 3 is region free, European fans and fans in other PAL territories can import the North American version.

Last week Square Enix has presented their financial results over the last 6 months ending 30 September. In the previous news item it was already mentioned that since the launch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn the game has been a success. The game has sold approximately 1.1 million physical copies and 350,000 downloadable copies. The current number of active players has exceeded 600,000, which has already exceeded the peak of Final Fantasy XI. They did also announce three strategic changes to the digital entertainment business that they're going to take.

Western studios will shift focus to and focus on the production of online-based titles. Also the price model will change from fixed to other earning models (like F2P). Nosgoth, a F2P battle action game taking place in the Legacy of Kain environment that is currently in development by Psyonix for PC, was cited as an example.

Studios in Japan will accelerate the production of titles for smart devices. Titles like Dragon Quest VIII and Final Fantasy Agito will be available soon. Last change that Square Enix is going to take is to expand in Asia and to release Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn in China.

In the latest issue of Famitsu Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy Agito. A free-to-play RPG for iOS and Android which is set in the same world as Final Fantasy Type-0, which was released almost two years ago in Japan for PSP, but never got a worldwide release.

Today Square Enix has released the first trailer of the game.