Square Enix opens U.S. Studio for new action IP

Square Enix logo

Japanese RPG powerhouse Square Enix is building a new studio in the United States based in Los Angeles (El Segundo), California. The new team that is being assembled will be working on a new action-oriented game that is based on a new IP that will be aimed at Western markets.

Which is just the latest development in Square’s move towards Western-audiences, following the announcement of their developing Supreme Commander 2 and the release of their latest RPG, The Last Remnant.

This was revealed via a job posting in the career section of their U.S. site, which seeks to fill several positions for the new location, including Xbox 360 software engineer, product manager, 3D artist and more. Another listing on a separate job site also lists “Wii development experience” and says they are looking “to lay the foundation for a solid development team.”

“How often do you get a chance to make sure that a studio starts off in the right direction?”, asks Square Enix in one of its job postings. “How often do you get to be one of the starting members, but also have medical insurance? This is a rare opportunity to have the creative control of a start-up but the backing and funding of a major publisher.”

This new studio will add to their development portfolio in the United States, which will join their two other studios.
Square Enix has another office in El Segundo, California as well as an office in Seattle, Washington. Both of these studios however handle localization, marketing and publishing of their North American games, rather than actual game development.

Square has this to say about the new studio,
“We see great opportunities in North American and European markets, both of which are expected to be maintaining sustainable growth over these coming years,” said Square Enix president and representative director Yoichi Wada, president and representative director. Wada has previously praised the technical and creative state of Western titles, and commented that overall, he plays Western games more than Japanese ones.