Square Enix is entering the world of Nintendo Directs and Sony State of Plays, as the first-ever Square Enix Presents event will take place on March 18, and it will feature announcements regarding Marvel’s Avengers, Outriders, and Tomb Raider. There was a time when video game developers and publishers flocked to shared events, like the annual E3 Expo, but that has changed recently, and not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nintendo proved with its Direct presentations that it could dominate the gaming discourse with announcements, without needing to share headlines with its competitors. Other companies also realized this, which is why more and more gaming showcases are digital events that are made for Twitch and YouTube. The pandemic and the cancelation of E3 hastened this process along, with companies now looking to promote titles through their own special events and presentations.
Square Enix is the latest publisher to enter the streaming showcase arena. Square Enix Presents is a new show with announcements for upcoming games and information about existing titles and franchises that will stream on the company’s Twitch and YouTube pages. The first event will be held on March 18, at 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT. The first Square Enix Presents will be roughly forty minutes in length and will feature the world premiere of the next Life is Strange game.
The first Square Enix Presents will also include new information and trailers for games like Outriders, which has already seen two million downloads for its demo. The show will also feature information about new games produced by Square Enix Montreal and Taito, as well as announcements regarding Balan Wonderworld, Marvel’s Avengers, and the upcoming Just Cause Mobile. Square Enix doesn’t mention any announcements regarding its JRPG franchises, like the Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy series, but it’s possible that they will show up as surprise reveals. There will also be information about the Tomb Raider series, which will likely include an announcement regarding the leaked Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy.
Square Enix is a big enough company that it can justify its own Nintendo Direct-style shows, depending on how often it intends on holding them. The company is a big contributor to Nintendo Directs and Sony State of Play events, but the time has come for Square Enix to deal with the online audience directly. It remains to be seen if the first Square Enix Presents has what it takes to capture gaming community’s attention, as the event is only a week away.
The Square Enix Presents showcase will take place on March 18 at 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT.
