A recent Square Enix patent might be priming the developer to step back into the strategy genre with a new deck based game involving multiple bases and command of a given play area. Whether or not this is related to recent patents or trademarks filed by Square Enix is still up in the air, but fans of the developer's previous strategy titles may be interested in some of the wording of this new repot.
When it comes to seeing Square Enix jump back into the strategy market, many fans may immediately be looking at one of the company's most popular titles in the genre, Final Fantasy Tactics and its continued adventures on mobile platforms. However, there may also be evidence that the developer could also be looking into expanding Final Fantasy Type-0 into its own franchise.
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As for the current patent, the exact wording mentions a whole host of features, including a base mechanic, where victory is determined by how many strongholds a player is holding, as well as language hinting at multiplayer. This could possibly be work with another Square Enix patent on multiplayer connectivity that looked to improve how multiple connected systems would communicate with each other during gameplay. If these patents are connected in some way, then this could mean that the developer is working on some sort of turn based, multiplayer title that includes teams battling against each other, which is further hinted at by this newest filing.
Alongside the base mechanics, the patent also has language that implies that there is some sort of deck mechanic, both in the parties that travel from base to base and ones that stay and defend the bases themselves. The language is intentionally vague, as the developer isn't looking to completely give away the game, but there is a fairly strong leaning in what much of the game implies that would suggest a deck-based strategy game. How exactly this applies to other filings, such as Square Enix's patent for a mobile title, is up in the air, though it's easy for fans to speculate that many of these recent claims might be related to an upcoming title.
The idea of this developer jumping into the strategy genre isn't exactly unheard of, with many of the most popular titles in Square Enix's catalogue at least being turn based. In some cases, the company has pioneered new mechanics and classic features, both as a developer or as a producer in the genre. However, it should also be noted that a filing by Square Enix doesn't necessarily mean that it is developing a new title, as the company has just as often taken on a producing role for these types of games.
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Source: USPTO