If there's been one constant throughout the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 generation so far it's this: the HD remake. After all, why bet on a new, untested IP when you can just dig up an older game, slap a slick coat of 1080p paint on it and call it a day? It's a strategy that's worked well for Microsoft, Sony, and Capcom (amongst others) over the past few years.

Sadly, those hoping that publishers had hopped off the nostalgia fuelled gravy train and onto the hyperloop of new IP are in for some disappointment. Square Enix—publisher of the likes of Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, and Dragon Quest—has promised to further mine its back catalogue for games it can bring to the current generation of platforms.

In its latest Annual Report (PDF link) the company detailed its plans for the next year, including how it hopes to redevelop older games for the modern market. "We will revitalise some of our strong IPs in ways that meet the needs of the modern gaming market," reads the report. "For example, we will take an IP developed for earlier generations of game consoles and recreate it for the latest consoles, while also proactively developing versions for play on smart devices."

Square Enix has been hard at work porting its back catalogue of games over to other platforms for a while, particularly mobile. Several Final Fantasy games are now available on iOS and Android, while the series will see its biggest remake to date in the form of the highly-anticipated (seriously, give it to me already) Final Fantasy VII for consoles. But the company is exploring other technologies too, outside of traditional platforms.

How many copies? Square Enix also dropped a few lifetime sales numbers for its biggest franchises in its report. Final Fantasy has shifted 110 million, Dragon Quest 66 million, Tomb Raider 45 million, and Hitman 15 million.



"We will also explore possibilities involving VR," continues the report. "We want our longtime fans to relish reliving past experiences with a freshness that only the latest in technology can provide, while at the same time have new customers enjoy the IP as though it were brand new. By not only optimising single pieces of IP for single platforms but also rolling out IP in a multi-dimensional manner to meet the needs of the modern market"." Oddly the report also suggests the IoT (Internet of Things) as something the company is looking at to "create new experiences."

At present, Square Enix cites "games for smart devices and PCs, as well as online games including MMOs" as key drivers for earnings. Fortunately, for those not interested in mobile games, the company won't be joining the likes of Konami in making them a primary focus of the business, citing strong sales of the PS4 and Xbox One.

It also won't be just focusing on older IP, promising to double down on the creation of new franchises: "Once new content begins to take shape, it is vital to have an environment and mechanisms in place that help it grow into a major franchise," says the report. "We intend to strengthen our efforts to sow the seeds of new content, and cultivate them constantly, and we will pursue a variety of avenues in order to do so. Our Group possesses many content platforms, including console games, smart device games, arcades, PC games, and comics. All of those platforms are capable of giving rise to new IPs."

Another interesting titbit from the report is that Square Enix is looking at "joint collaborations" for "a single product," or "business alliances of a wider scope." Sadly, there aren't any details on what those collaborations might entail, although a section on China further down the report hints at a few possibilities: "China's shift to mobile has been remarkable, and the country possesses some of the most advanced mobile game development technologies in the world. This makes collaborations and partnerships with Chinese companies very appealing, and we intend to approach such opportunities."

While fellow Japanese publishers Capcom and Konami have been struggling of late, Square Enix has had a pretty good year, thanks the success of Final Fantasy XIV (following a disastrous start) and Life Is Strange, amongst others. Just Cause 3 and Rise of the Tomb Raider are also due for release by the end of the year, followed by Deus Ex: Mankind Divided in 2016. Let's hope the stream of great releases continues and publisher doesn't focus too much on the remakes in the future.