Part 11/14:
The unfolding situation at Square Enix reflects broader challenges faced by Japanese companies in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape. The global success of titles like Final Fantasy has historically depended on maintaining cultural uniqueness, which is now under threat from external and internal pressures.
Fans and industry veterans alike deplore the trend of homogenization—where distinctive storytelling and character design are replaced or modified to fit Western tastes. This process risks diluting the artistic richness that drew audiences worldwide. The concern is that if Japanese media continues to be reshaped by internal activism and external activism-driven localizers, it may lose the bold character that made it appealing in the first place.