Will Our Favorite Square Enix Games Last Forever? The Devs Respond!

Alright, gamers, let’s talk about something that’s been on many of our minds lately: game preservation. With the gaming world leaning heavily into digital-only releases, the big question is, what happens to our beloved titles years down the line?

This very concern recently popped up at a Square Enix shareholders’ meeting, and the legendary publisher behind Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts had to address how they plan to keep their vast library of games accessible for future generations. It’s a huge deal, especially when you think about how many incredible experiences could simply vanish if not properly maintained.

A shareholder raised a valid point: while Square Enix is busy delighting us with fantastic remakes, a lot of their original classics, especially older titles, live-service games that have since shut down, and mobile-only releases, are incredibly hard to find or play on modern systems. Basically, where do these games go when their time in the spotlight is over? What’s the company’s long-term plan to ensure these digital treasures don’t become mere memories?

Square Enix’s response was, well, a mixed bag. They stated that how they keep a game available “depends on the nature of a title.” For big hitters like the Nier series, they share information and lore through official livestreams. For other games, their solution is to preserve cutscenes and story moments by uploading them to video streaming platforms. They rounded off their answer with a promise to “continue to create pathways” for players to enjoy their games, even after their primary service has ended or the story concludes.

Now, while it’s nice that we can re-watch our favorite cutscenes on YouTube, let’s be real for a second. Is that truly “game preservation” in the way most of us imagine it? Watching a movie isn’t the same as actually *playing* the game. Take the Nier series, for instance; you can grab the remastered first entry on current-gen consoles and PC, but the original version? Not so much.

The Kingdom Hearts saga is another prime example. Remember the Game Boy Advance version of Chain of Memories? That classic experience is still locked to its original cartridge. While we got Re:Chain of Memories, the PlayStation 2 remake, bundled in the 1.5 Remix, it’s not quite the same. Even more tellingly, two other key entries, 358/2 Days and the mobile game X, are only included in the Kingdom Hearts collections as extended cinematic compilations – basically, just stitched-together cutscenes. Sure, porting a Nintendo DS game like 358/2 Days might be tricky, but considering the recent Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer directly referenced elements from X, it shows how important these stories are to the overarching narrative, and how much better it would be if fans could actually play them again.

As the gaming industry charges full steam ahead into a digital-first future, it’s crucial for us, the gamers, to remind publishers like Square Enix that preserving our gaming heritage and the option of physical media truly matter. When you can, consider buying discs, and don’t hesitate to voice your desire for more accessible preservation options. The longevity of your cherished games might just depend on it!