Square Enix announced on July 9 that it would be shutting down SQUARE ENIX EXTREME EDGES, its overseas publishing label, marking the end of its 16-year history.
SQUARE ENIX EXTREME EDGES started back in 2010 as an effort to bring overseas game titles to Japan. It has contributed to the popularization of numerous Western games domestically, with the most well-known examples being Call of Duty and the Life is Strange series. Some of the other game franchises it handled throughout the years include Tomb Raider, Hitman and Deux Ex.
Square Enix’s decision to discontinue the label comes as a result of the change in the video game market and its globalization. As they explain in the official announcement, “now that overseas titles have become widely accepted, there’s no more need to specifically refer to them as yōge” – yōge being the Japanese term for “Western games.”
Given that many video game titles nowadays are made with a global release in mind from the get-go, and that overseas games have become more accessible than ever, it seems like Square Enix doesn’t see the need to maintain a dedicated label for Western games and give them “special treatment” in the current industry landscape.
While an exact date of closure hasn’t been given, Square Enix said it would gradually cease social media activities following the announcement.
