With Microsoft and Sony both making some wildly major power moves regarding acquisitions for a new generation of gaming, all studios are seemingly up for grabs when it comes to the rumor mill. Earlier this week, Bloomberg Japan published a report that Square Enix was in talks with “multiple potential buyers,” and the company itself immediately turned around and shot it down.
Square Enix started April 16 off with a firm statement against the rumors that spread fairly quickly, saying, “Bloomberg has reported today that there is interest from several buyers to acquire Square Enix. However, this report is not based on any announcement by Square Enix Holdings Co. LTD. We do no considering selling off the company or any part of its businesses, nor have we received any offers from any third party to acquire the company or any part of its businesses.”
Some have picked apart this message, only focusing on the first half where it doesn’t seem like an outright no. “Based on any announcement” could simply mean that nothing from behind closed doors has surfaced. But the message, as a whole, is quite clear: no offers have been made, and no outreach attempts are the goal. Could that change in the future? Absolutely, anything could happen, but the most recent reports are inaccurate, according to the company itself.
It’s important to note that companies having potential investor/buyout conversations is nothing out of the ordinary; they happen all of the time. That being said, in no way do those conversations automatically mean something will come of it. Sometimes it’s just gauging interest, sometimes that conversation comes naturally as part of other discussions, but oftentimes it doesn’t mean what people assume it means.
The rumor mill was quick to pick this report up and run with it, with predictions that this could be the next Microsoft acquisition. This rumor was beefed up even more with Xbox’s Phil Spencer’s previous commentary about wanting a stronger working relationship with Japanese studios and more RPGs. While there are undoubtedly more acquisitions on the way from both Sony and Microsoft as the healthy competition between the two in the market space continues to heat up, Square Enix has officially left the chat.
What do you think about the recent rumors regarding Square Enix? Would you like to see the company acquired by a larger brand? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comment section below.
[Source: Square Enix]
