Square Enix Plans Announcement for E3 2021

Square Enix has joined the stable of publishers and developers set to take part in E3 2021, the company confirmed to Nikkei this week.

When asked about which of the company's games he was most looking forward to, Square Enix president Yosuka Matsuda listed a few titles before saying Square Enix had an announcement planned for E3.

Square Enix Plans Announcement for E3 2021

"Outriders, the release of which was postponed, was released on April 1, and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... will also be released in April," Matsuda said, per a VGC translation. "In addition, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will be released in June."

"We'll be announcing the rest of the line-up [later], and we're also planning to make an announcement at E3 in June, so please keep your eyes peeled."

Square Enix was not among the first round of companies E3 announced as taking part in its 2021 digital event, suggesting it has signed on since then. Square Enix has dipped its toes in running its own direct digital showcases — it used one earlier this year to announce the next Life is Strange game — but it appears E3's brand still commands some respect.

Ubisoft has confirmed its next Ubisoft Forward broadcast will be part of E3 2021, effectively slipping its own direct under the E3 umbrella. Square Enix could be planning the same, as it ended its last Square Enix Presents digital event with the message, "Be on the lookout for our next Square Enix Presents this summer."

So what's Square Enix planning for that E3 announcement? The company has several Final Fantasy mobile titles in development in addition to the next main-franchise entry, Final Fantasy XVI. It also has the mysterious RPG Forspoken sitting mostly under wraps, Life is Strange remasters, and more from which to pull an announcement.

It'll be interesting to see Square Enix's content reveal strategy develop as it finds its own balance of direct-to-consumer broadcasts and industry events like E3. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed games companies more and more toward running their own broadcasts, but companies with less experience in the form may be more comfortable returning to tentpole events such as E3. Where Square Enix lands on that spectrum is anyone's guess at this point.

E3 2021's other confirmed participants include Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media.