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Square Enix eyes India as part of year of “aggressive” overseas expansion

India and China will play a key role in the Square Enix president’s plans for global growth

Square Enix eyes India as part of year of “aggressive” overseas expansion

Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda has detailed plans for an “aggressive” overseas expansion for the company in 2019.

India’s emerging market is set to play a key part role in this business growth. Research by Jetsynthesis suggests that the subcontinent will be home to 310 million gamers by 2021.

However, while India is known for being home to a raft of mobile users and racking up large downloads, the number of spenders is relatively low - though growing.

“We plan to relaunch our dormant Indian subsidiary and pursue the robust expansion of our Indian business,” said Matsuda.

“Given India’s developing telecommunications and payment infrastructure, we see it as an extremely promising market for entertainment consumption in terms of both the size of its population and its economic power.”

Make the most of it

Square Enix is also looking to work with Chinese developers and publishers who have found themselves at a loose end following the nationwide block on game approvals.

That block was recently lifted, but Chinese firms are increasingly looking further afield as their home field remains unpredictable and new, tougher regulations take hold.

“As though in response to that unpredictability, many Chinese publishers and developers are ramping up efforts at growing their international presence, including by actively engaging in M&A activity and business alliances in regions other than China," said Matsuda.

"The fluidity and unpredictability of the situation are all the more reason that there should also be major opportunities."


Staff Writer

Natalie Clayton is an Edinburgh-based freelance writer and game developer. Besides PCGamesInsider and Pocketgamer.biz, she's written across the games media landscape and was named in the 2018 GamesIndustry.biz 100 Rising Star list.