Business Spotlight: Square Enix Holdings Part 2

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. acquisition / ˌæk wəˈzɪʃ ən / (n) – the purchase of one company by another
    Example:

    My company’s latest acquisition is a small tech startup.


  2. mixed reception / mɪkst rɪˈsɛp ʃən / (n) – a combination of both good and bad reactions to something
    Example:

    The singer’s new album has received a mixed reception; some fans love it, but others say her previous album was much better.


  3. be plagued with (something) / bi pleɪgd wɪθ / (idiom) – to have continuous or repeated trouble, illness, or worry
    Example:

    My old computer is plagued with viruses.


  4. bloated / ˈbloʊ tɪd / (adj) – using more system resources like memory than is necessary
    Example:

    The young programmer’s first software was bloated and full of bugs.


  5. ever-evolving / ˈɛv ər ɪˈvɒlv ɪŋ / (adj) – constantly changing
    Example:

    Technology is ever-evolving; it’s amazing how much things have changed in just the past 10 years.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


Luckily, following the success of Final Fantasy X (2001) and Kingdom Hearts (2002), Square was performing better than ever. Despite some initial criticism, the merger took place in April 2003.


As Square Enix, the company has attempted to reach new heights — with varying success. It has made many acquisitions, including Taito, developer of Space Invaders, in 2005, and Eidos, developer of Tomb Raider, in 2009.


The company is still best known for its Final Fantasy series, though the last few installments in the series have received a mixed reception. Final Fantasy XIII and XV were plagued with delays and bloated content, and the online Final Fantasy XIV was at one point taken down.


Nonetheless, 2020 has proved that it’s not the end for this popular series. Final Fantasy VII Remake, praised by critics, was one of the bestselling games of the year. Looking to the future, there is still much to come from this ever-evolving company. (Jasmin Hayward)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Square Enix has released at least 15 installments of Final Fantasy, and the last few have received a mixed reception. Do you think it’s good for companies to keep popular series going as long as they make money? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake was one of the bestselling games of 2020. How do you feel about remakes of video games and movies? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Square and Enix merged in 2003. What do you think are some common problems when two companies merge (ex. company cultures not matching, decrease in employee motivation)? Why? Discuss.
  • Square Enix has made a number of acquisitions over the years. What should companies consider before acquiring another business (ex. profits, number of staff)? Why? Discuss.