Square-Enix claims £20 mobile titles do sell, not as negative as you'd think

Square-Enix is known for selling iOS and Android titles at a high price-point, but the publisher has stressed that its mobile strategy does work, and in many cases ends up being cheaper than some free-to-play titles, after factoring in microtransaction spend. Find out why below.

Speaking with MCV, Square Enix mobile general manager Antony Douglas stated that a shift in audience perception means that highly-priced mobile games still have a place in the handheld market.

In regards to the episode title Final Fantasy Dimensions, which will cost you £19.99 in total, Douglas explained, "It’s actually done a lot more revenue than a lot of free-to-play with in-app purchases or advertising models. You’ve got to sell 12 times that in some cases to get to one game on that £14.99/£20 model."

The result of this strategy is a change in perception, Douglas argued, “Customer behaviour is changing all the time so it’s one of many business models that we have and we have all the others under scrutiny as well. What I will say about the business model is that it’s not fixed. Everyone says free-to-play is the future and that’s absolutely part of it, but that will change."

“If you’re playing a lengthy £20 RPG title," he added, "there will be an audience for that. Some people won’t go for it but those people could spend £30 on resource management games. We’re looking into it to see how people respond."

“We can’t show too much in the way of figures but it hasn’t had the negative sales response that some people would think," he concluded.

How much is too much for a mobile title? Let us know what you think below.