TOKYO--Square Enix yesterday updated its profit estimates for the full fiscal year, lowering that figure by almost 20 percent. While Square Enix originally expected profits for the fiscal year to tally 10.5 billion yen, it has now changed that figure to 8.1 billion yen.

　　The company says the change is due to its postponement of the release of Final Fantasy XII to sometime after March 31, 2004--the end of Square Enix's fiscal year. Reuters is reporting that even that delayed date may be pushed back further. "We had planned to release Final Fantasy XII in the current business year," said a Square Enix spokesperson, "but after a review of our product launch plan, we decided to delay it to next business year or later."

　　Square Enix president Youichi Wada commented that the game’s release date is being shifted due not only to delays in development but also to avoid competing with other Square Enix titles. Although not expected to entirely replace revenues expected from Final Fantasy XII, the company did recently announce a PlayStation 2 port of Dragon Quest V, to be released before the end of its current fiscal year (sometime before March 31, 2004).

　　Before merging with Enix, Square was known for its singularly popular (and successful) Final Fantasy franchise, while Enix was known for Dragon Quest. Both series continue to be on the merged company's release schedule, however, today's news means that two of its major RPGs will not be showing up until the company's next fiscal year. (Square Enix had announced earlier that Dragon Quest VIII would not ship until 2004.)

　　In related news, Square Enix says unit sales in both Japan and in overseas markets have increased. Additionally, the company pointed out that Drakengard for the PS2 and its TV toy game Shinken Dragon Quest, a game based on the Dragon Quest series that can be played by plugging it into the TV, have both been selling beyond expectations in Japan.