Controversial video game consultancy Sweet Baby Inc. has removed Square Enix from its client list on its website.
A screenshot from Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion (2022), Square Enix
Previously, Square Enix was listed in the middle of the second row on the company’s list of clients between Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Games.
List of companies Sweet Baby Inc. has worked with on their website
However, Sweet Baby Inc. has since updated their client list on their website and Square Enix is no longer on it. Along with Square Enix, Nerial, a subsidiary of Devolver Digital and the developer of Reigns and Card Shark is no longer listed as well.
A screenshot of a list of companies Sweet Baby Inc. has worked with on their website taken on September 24, 2024 at 2:37 PM ET
It is unclear why Sweet Baby Inc. removed Square Enix from its client list. However, an investor for Square Enix questioned the company about its relationship with Sweet Baby Inc. during a recent earnings report.
As reported by X user Michsuzu the investor questioned, ” I’m personally happy about the shift from quantity to quality. I hope good titles will come out in the future. I’m concerned about the Canadian consulting company “sweetBaby.” Square Enix is listed as a client, but is there actually a transaction there? What kind of transaction is it? Will they continue to do so in the future?”
michsuzu on X
READ: Square Enix Shareholder Questions Company About Sweet Baby Inc.’s Involvement
Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu responded, “I would like to refrain from making specific comments about individual clients. As we shift from quantity to quality, providing content that is enjoyable and safe for our customers is also part of what makes a product fun. We will do our best as creators.”
michsuzu on X
Square Enix previously worked with consultancy group Black Girl Gamers on Forspoken. It did not turn out well for the company. Square Enix Representative Director Yosuke Matsuda admitted the games sales were not good during the company’s financial results briefing back in February 2023.
He said, “Reviews of Forspoken, which we released on January 24, 2023, have been challenging. However, the game has also received positive feedback on its action features, including its parkour and combat capabilities, so it has yielded results that will lead to improvement of our development capabilities of other games in the future.”
Next, he discussed the game’s sales, “That said, its sales have been lackluster, and while the performance of new titles with February and March release dates will be the ultimate determinant, we see considerable downside risk to our FY2023/3 earnings.”
A screenshot from Forspoken (2023), Square Enix
Square Enix shut down the game’s developer Luminous Productions and absorbed it into the company at-large.
Luminous Productions announced it was shuttering in February 2023.
Luminous Productions on X
One possible reason why Square Enix is no longer listed as a client is that it committed to getting back to quality games and engaging with its customers honestly.
Square Enix announced a new corporate philosophy of creating “unforgettable experiences” and putting a focus on “delivering ensured fun” by shifting from quantity to quality after its profits declined 70% by embracing video consultants like Black Girl Gamers.
A screenshot from Square Enix’s New Medium-term Business Plan (FY2025/3-FY2027/3).
What do you make of Sweet Baby Inc. removing Square Enix from its client list?
[…] Fonte: thatparkplace […]