One of yesterday's biggest topics was news that Square Enix would have to hit 10 million sales with Final Fantasy XV in order to make back its investment on the game. It was a figure that shocked many consumers, but it wasn't completely accurate.
Speaking to Famitsu, Square Enix shared that the 10 million figure is simply a "goal of the team", and probably "exaggerated".
Although 10 million doesn't appear to be the break-even point, it may be very close to that number. Final Fantasy XV has required more than five years of development from a team of more than 100 people. Its scale and complexity has certainly cost Square Enix more than 40 million dollars, and the true figure is nearly anyone's guess.
Only one Final Fantasy game has ever come close to achieving 10 million units sold, and that was the legendary Final Fantasy VII, which relied heavily on its "greatest of all-time" reputation, nearly flawless reception, and ports to many platforms to achieve that number. Every other Final Fantasy game has sold under 7 million units, spelling little hope for Final Fantasy XV's run to eight digits.
How well Final Fantasy XV performs will rely heavily on how it's perceived by consumers to a degree much higher than any ordinary game. The Final Fantasy brand has been tarnished during the past decade by releases that haven't met the status quo. Many fans and consumers in general will be hesitant to buy the game unless it has strong positive word of mouth.
Thankfully, what has been showcased of Final Fantasy XV looks fantastic, and its early playable demos have reinforced the notion that it has the potential to be a great game.
