Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights by Square Enix is closing in 2023

At the end of 2022, Square Enix is cleaning up its act. The studio Onoma (Square Enix Montéral) has given up after its takeover and the productions of the Japanese publisher are closing their doors one by one. This is also the case for Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights on mobile which now has a closing date.

Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights inaccessible and unavailable in 2023

How did we get to the point of Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights closing on February 28, 2023? Let's take a look back at Square Enix's recent stance and the future of its games on Android and iOS. First launched earlier this year in Japan, Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights was thought to be a mobile spinoff title of the license. A gapless RPG, the title focuses on Claire, an apprentice alchemist.

If you're interested in the game, it's not too late to get started, but it won't last! Mythril sales are already closed and unused premium currency will be available for refund. Even with the servers ending in February 2023, players can expect to see the end of the main story arc and some additional content before the final date.

Square Enix doesn't really justify the closure of Bravely Default mobile. The publisher just uses the usual phrase "the developers of Brilliant Lights will no longer be able to provide sufficient service to the game community in the future" in its official announcement.

The future of Square Enix games in 2023

From a gamer's perspective, Square Enix's decisions are hard to understand. And it's hard to know what's causing the closure of Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights. The Japanese publisher releases games at a generally high price, sometimes without English translation, and mainly addresses its Japanese audience, despite the high public expectation for its mobile games.

There are exceptions, however, especially in the case of Final Fantasy. Brave Exvius is an example of a mobile game that has been convincing since its launch. On the other hand, even if we really liked the battle royale FF VII The First Soldier, Square Enix is closing it too in 2023.

In addition to Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights becoming unattainable, Square Enix has cut short many productions. The games from Onoma studio, Hitman Sniper: The Shadows, Lara Croft GO, Deus EX... All of them are pushed to the exit at the end of 2022.

Square Enix has also experienced failures in the face of the competitive market and the better offerings of its opponents. Chocobo GP is an example. In any case, we hope that things will be different in 2023 and that Square Enix will be able to renew its proposals on mobile for an international market in demand of refreshing experiences, without systematically capitalizing on its retro successes of the past decade.