Square Enix shutters short-lived India branch

MCV India reports that Square Enix has decided to close its office in Mumbai, India, laying off six employees in the process. The office was opened just over a year ago with an eye towards working with local developers to create mobile games for the burgeoning Indian market. The office did not release a single game during its lifetime, though projects may well have been in development. The news suggests that Square Enix is changing its strategy in India, a market that it began courting in 2012 by hosting the Square Enix Game Development Contest India. The two winners of the contest ultimately had their games turned down for publishing by Square Enix HQ, and the company's emerging markets business -- which was championed by honorary chairman Yasuhiro Fukushima when Square Enix India was opened in 2012 -- is now under the purview of former company president Yoichi Wada. Gamasutra has reached out to Square Enix for independent confirmation and further comment on the news.