Square Enix Collective
Division focusing on indie developers
Square Enix Collective is an indie games division of Square Enix Limited.[ 2] Created by Phil Elliott in 2014, it is a self-titled "service provider for Indie developers", which helps get a developer's game published while they maintain their creative control.[ 1] [ 3]
History
First announced by former journalist Phil Elliott in November 2013 at Game Developers Conference Next, former Eidos Interactive intellectual properties (IPs) were potentially available for developers.[ 4] [ 5] In February 2015, Fear Effect , Gex and Anachronox were available to pitch.[ 6] Originally Collective partnered with Indiegogo for crowdfunding.[ 7] [ 8]
In 2016, developers would submit a pitch to the company on a rolling basis. The pitches would then be presented to the public through the Collective's website, and a polling process would take place once a week, with anyone welcome to vote on the projects that excited them. While the polling process was not the sole determinate for which developers the Collective would assist, it played a pivotal role.[ 9] Square Enix took five percent of the games' revenue after fees.[ 10]
According to Square Enix, it helped with Kickstarter fundraising campaigns raising $1.2m in total.[ 2] Notable games which had campaigns include Moonlighter , Ultimate Chicken Horse and Moon Hunters . In October 2018, the company announced they would be closing their platform for campaign curation, instead focusing on larger and specific products without the element of public polling.[ 11] In August 2022, Bulkhead Interactive ended its relationship with Collective and said it was disappointed Battalion 1944 did not release on consoles.[ 12] In February 2023, Elliott left Square Enix and became CEO of publisher Modern Wolf.[ 13]
Games published
Release
Title
Developer(s)
Platform(s)
Ref(s).
2016
Goetia
Sushee
Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
[ 14]
The Turing Test
Bulkhead Interactive
PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
[ 15]
2017
Tokyo Dark
Cherrymochi
Microsoft Windows
[ 16]
Children of Zodiarcs
Cardboard Utopia
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Mac
[ 17]
Black the Fall
Sand Sailor Studio
Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One
[ 18]
Deadbeat Heroes
Deadbeat Productions
Microsoft Windows
[ 18]
Oh My Godheads
Titutitech
Microsoft Windows
[ 18]
2018
Octahedron: Transfixed Edition
Demimonde
Nintendo Switch
[ 19]
Fear Effect Sedna
Sushee
Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
[ 20]
Forgotton Anne
ThroughLine Games
macOS, Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android
[ 21]
Boundless
Wonderstruck Games
Microsoft Windows
[ 22]
2019
Battalion 1944
Bulkhead Interactive
Microsoft Windows
[ 23]
2021
Circuit Superstars
Original Fire Games
PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Switch
[ 24]
2022
PowerWash Simulator
FuturLab
Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5
[ 25]
2023
Little Goody Two Shoes
AstralShift
Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
[ 26]
References
^ a b Heaney, Duncan. "What is Square Enix Collective?" . Square Enix. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019 .
^ a b "SQUARE ENIX | Collective - About" . collective.square-enix-games.com .
^ Greene, Gavin (16 June 2015). "Square Enix Collective is Square Enix's effort to support indies" . VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019 .
^ Ligman, Kris (2013-11-07). "Square Enix shares its publishing vision for Collective" . Game Developer . Retrieved 2023-01-24 .
^ "Square Enix's Collective program now open to developers" . MCV/Develop . 2014-04-04. ISSN 1469-4832 . Retrieved 2024-01-12 .
^ Wawro, Alex (2015-02-17). "Devs, you can now pitch your own Gex game to Square Enix" . Game Developer . Retrieved 2023-01-24 .
^ "Details for developers - how Collective works | Square Enix Collective" . Square Enix. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014.
^ Rose, Mike (8 October 2013). "Square Enix adopts crowdfunding model for new program" . Gamasutra .
^ Couture, Joel (7 April 2016). "What Square Enix Collective looks for in indie games it assists" . Game Developer . Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019 .
^ Dring, Christopher (March 9, 2017). " "People will be cynical about our intentions" - Square Enix Collective" . GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2020 .
^ "Closing Submissions for 2018" . Square Enix Collective . Slyrebirth. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019 .
^ Marie, Dealessandri (2022-08-10). "Bulkhead ends relationship with Square Enix" . GamesIndustry.biz . Retrieved 2024-01-12 .
^ Marie, Dealessandri (21 February 2023). "Phil Elliott to become CEO of Modern Wolf" . GamesIndustry.biz .
^ "Goetia will be the first game to be published by Collective!" . square-enix-games.com . Retrieved 2023-08-20 .
^ Craddock, Ryan (January 24, 2020). "Square Enix Collective Reveals First-Person Puzzle-Shooter The Turing Test For Nintendo Switch" . Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 24, 2020 .
^ "Tokyo Dark" . Tokyo Dark . Cherrymochi. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019 .
^ Knezevic, Kevin (18 July 2017). "Classic-Style PS4/PC Tactical RPG Children Of Zodiarcs Out Now" . GameSpot .
^ a b c Smith, Adam (16 March 2017). "Square Enix Collective bringing seven games to Rezzed" . Rock, Paper, Shotgun .
^ "Review: Octahedron: Transfixed Edition - Twitch Platforming In Yet Another Definitive Switch Port" . Nintendo Life . 14 January 2019.
^ Saed, Sherif (2016-04-07). "There's a new Fear Effect coming, and it's not what you think" . VG247 . Retrieved 2023-05-19 .
^ "Forgotton Anne" . Forgotton Anne . Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019 .
^ Pereira, Bryant (2018-09-11). "Square Enix Collective MMO Boundless Launches Today on PS4 and PC" . GameSkinny . Retrieved 2023-05-19 .
^ "Square Enix acquires stake in Bulkhead Interactive" . Square Enix . 2018-11-06.
^ "Circuit Superstars" . Square Enix . Retrieved 31 July 2019 .
^ "PowerWash Simulator launches July 14th on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 & Steam!" . Retrieved 4 July 2022 .
^ Romano, Sal (17 August 2022). "Square Enix Collective to publish fairytale horror RPG Little Goody Two Shoes from Pocket Mirror developer AstralShift" . Gematsu .
External links