Accéder au contenu principal

Sélection

Fire Emblem’s Remarkable Comeback

Fire Emblem’s Remarkable Comeback https://ift.tt/7qwgX1M Though it may not be a sales juggernaut on the scale of Mario or The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem is one of Nintendo's preeminent franchises. Like so many of its vaunted stablemates, the series is almost as old as Nintendo's gaming ambitions, debuting on the Famicom and appearing on nearly every home and handheld console since. Given this prominence, it's almost difficult to believe that Fire Emblem's future was ever in jeopardy, but such was indeed once the case; there was a point in time when the series was very much on the verge of cancellation, and it took a dramatic shakeup to reverse its fortunes. To fully contextualize this rocky period in Fire Emblem's history, we need to look back at its trajectory in the wake of its belated international debut. Unlike Nintendo's other marquee properties, Fire Emblem took a circuitous route to Western markets. Though the series began in 1990, its first severa...

Square Enix Shares Jumped On Buyout Rumors, But The Company Says It’s Not Happening

Square Enix Shares Jumped On Buyout Rumors, But The Company Says It’s Not Happening https://ift.tt/C5y4Dpa

Following a report that Square Enix was potentially exploring going private, the company behind hit franchises like Final Fantasy has released a statement denying the claims. Japanese business magazine Sentaku originally reported that Square Enix was exploring this possibility and that foreign investment funds were rumored to be interested in a deal, which saw Square Enix's stock rise by 7%.

"The September issue of the monthly magazine Sentaku carried a report regarding the possibility of Square Enix. (the Company) going private," Square Enix wrote in a press release. "However, this information was not announced by the Company. No consideration is currently being given within the Company to taking the Company private."

Even if Square Enix were to change its mind, buying back all shares wouldn't be cheap. Depending on daily stock fluctuations on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Square Enix has a Market Capitalization of roughly $6.67 billion to $6.82 billion. While that's pretty big, Square Enix still pales in comparison to the market valuations of its fellow Japanese gaming giants, Nintendo ($64 billion) and Capcom ($11.33 billion). Where the company stands out is that it has a stable revenue base, and recent financial overhauls have improved its capital efficiency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3NrZKxdh6Q

Square Enix is also more than just a video game developer and publisher, as it also publishes manga magazines and graphic novels under its Gangan Comics imprint, operates arcade franchises under the Taito Corporation banner, and it has a massive merchandising arm. Looking ahead, Square Enix has plenty of games in the pipeline, including the upcoming releases of Final Fantasy Resonance and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation.

That would make it a lucrative prospect for an offer to go private, as seen in the case of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund--alongside Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s private equity firm Affinity Partners and investment company Silver Lake--taking ownership of Electronic Arts last month, concluding a $55 billion deal.

Unfortunately, this takeover has left EA saddled with billions in debt, and it's feared that mass layoffs will follow as the company aims to cut costs.

Commentaires