Microsoft wanted to acquire Square Enix in 2019, and Xbox’s strategic plan came to light

Among the documents that emerged from the process between the FTC and Microsoft was the Project Approval Strategic Planand the acquisition of Square Enix by Microsoftan element that was kept secret within the company but was at least partly eliminated during the process.

As reported by journalist Stephen Totilo, it’s not clear what level the project has reached or if there are actual negotiations with Square Enix, but Microsoft’s intention is to acquire it. It was created in 2019when the Japanese publisher still had Western divisions Crystal dynamics that it Eidoswhich was later sold to the Embracer Group.

Anyway, the plan arrived An important level of internal discussion, with notes provided by Phil Spencer on the proposed acquisition. Judging by what emerged from the documents, Microsoft also discussed the game’s distribution strategy.

The strategy proposal was for SquareEnix’s existing games to be released on the announced platforms. Future games will ship today/date on Game Pass (which they note will break up sales)
The team wanted to explore the trade-offs of selling SquareEnix content exclusively on Xbox vs. competing consoles pic.twitter.com/I85xvR7AKU

– Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 28, 2023

Titles already released or announced and in development by Square Enix were supposed to be released on the aforementioned platforms in the traditional manner, but the following games would have been released on Day 1 on Game Pass. It appears that the planning phase has also explored the possibility of making Square Enix games exclusive to Xbox, but keeping in mind the potential losses in terms of sales that would have arisen with this initiative.

On the other hand, many back stories about Microsoft’s potential Xbox expansion emerge from the process, as seen in the list of more than 100 teams and publishers considered for acquisition by the company.