Switch 2 Exclusive Remake Defies Square Enix’s Strategy

The Nintendo Switch 2, despite its rocky reveal, is turning heads with its impressive lineup of launch titles. Among them, Mario Kart World takes the spotlight, but it’s joined by a strong set of third-party games like Split Fiction, Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, and Hogwarts Legacy. Yet, what’s catching many by surprise is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, a game resurrected from the 2013 Nintendo 3DS classic by Square Enix and Silicon Studio, now beautifully re-imagined for the Switch 2 thanks to Cattle Call. Interestingly, this beloved JRPG will only be available on the new console.

The Bravely Default series and Nintendo have been longtime partners, with all three games having made their initial appearances on Nintendo platforms, courtesy of the publisher Nintendo. However, there’s a slight hiccup with Bravely Default 2, which eventually found its way to Windows PCs after its Switch debut. So, while the exclusivity of the Flying Fairy HD Remaster doesn’t completely blindside us, it does seem a bit at odds with Square Enix’s recent push for wider availability across platforms.

Square Enix’s pattern of locking its games behind exclusivity isn’t new. Unlike Capcom, EA, or SEGA, which are known for spreading their games across platforms, Square Enix has often opted to confine its biggest hits to specific consoles. Franchise favorites like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and the recent Final Fantasy 16 started out as PlayStation exclusives before showing up on PCs.

Now, according to Square Enix’s recent promises, things are supposed to be changing. Reports as of May 2024 suggest the company plans to shake up its old ways with a three-year growth strategy dubbed “Square Enix Reboots and Awakens,” aiming for multiplatform development. The idea was to collaborate with giants like Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs to make their games more widely available. This direction was expected to mark the end of exclusives for franchises like Final Fantasy, yet, the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster seems to tell a different story.

Frankly, keeping this revamped Bravely Default game restricted to the Switch 2 might not be the savviest business move. Given its origin as a 3DS game, the remaster could likely run on the original Switch, making its limitation to the newer console puzzling. The series, though much-loved, has a rather niche appeal, and a single remaster isn’t likely to drive a massive surge in Switch 2 sales by itself. A broader release, perhaps on platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, could broaden the audience for Bravely Default and possibly boost its popularity across the globe. If Square Enix is serious about its commitment to embrace multiplatform development, they’ll need to ensure games, even those with a niche fanbase like Bravely Default, aren’t kept from reaching their full potential by unnecessary platform restrictions.