Square Enix has banned streamers from uploading or live streaming “anything from the ending of the Game” from the ending of the Final Fantasy prequel Stranger of Paradise.
Square-Enix, the publisher of Stranger of Paradise, has told creators not to stream or upload videos of the game’s ending, despite the fact that it will be released on March 18, 2022, with early access beginning on March 15th. The restrictions are listed on Square Enix’s website, and they apply to both Twitch and YouTube.
The game is set in the universe of the first Final Fantasy, which came out in 1987.
Stranger of Paradise, like the first game, follows the Four Heroes of Light on their quest to defeat the villain Chaos and save the kingdom. The game’s tone is altered in this version, as it is set in a futuristic world rather than a medieval one.
The basic quest and premise, however, remain unchanged, making the decision to avoid streaming the ending even more perplexing.
While it’s not uncommon to see streaming restrictions in place ahead of a game’s release, Square-Enix has taken a stand against anyone showing the game’s ending — despite the fact that players can access it now.
The official page of rules and limitations is lengthy.
Twitch streamer Cohh Carnage issued a warning to fellow broadcasters in case they were unaware of the rule and inadvertently broke it
Players have stated that they will not stream the game at all, while others have stated that the lack of streaming potential will prevent them from purchasing the game. The review embargo on the game was lifted yesterday, and the PS5 version currently has a Metacritic score of 72.
It’s unclear what kind of consequences content creators would face if they broke these rules.