http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04...s_6093314.htmlIn late 2002, the game industry woke up to the news that Japanese RPG powerhouse Square was throwing in the towel. Humbled by losses associated with its 2001 feature-length animated film,
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, the once-dominant developer and publisher announced its plans to merge with rival Enix. Actually, it was more of a takeover than a merger. The move was the price Square paid for spending an estimated $140 million to produce Spirits. The film opened to lukewarm reviews and proceeded to perform dismally at the box office.
The Spirits Within never recovered its costs. It was a certifiable flop, and it cost the company its independence.