談到任天堂前社長山內溥當年對Square「出走事件」的反應，可以說不只是單純的不滿，而是帶有強烈的背叛感。在那個高度講究業界輩分與合作忠誠的年代，Square不僅轉投Sony陣營，還帶動多家開發商集體轉向，對任天堂而言幾乎是公開挑戰權威的行為。

據傳當時Square高層曾多次試圖親自前往京都向山內溥致歉，甚至準備禮物希望緩和關係，卻連面見的機會都沒有，直接被拒於門外。更有說法指出，山內溥曾以帶有怒氣的語氣回應：「既然這麼喜歡CD-ROM，那就別再回來了。」這句話不僅反映出他對Square投奔光碟陣營的強烈不滿，也象徵雙方關係幾乎徹底決裂。

除了情緒層面的衝突，商業上的對立也相當明顯。任天堂當時憑藉其在零售通路的影響力，使Square的遊戲在店面曝光與推廣上受到限制，進一步加深雙方裂痕。媒體甚至形容兩家公司如同「永遠不會相交的平行線」，顯示出關係已降至冰點。

然而，這段僵局在2003年出現轉機。當Square Enix由Square與Enix合併而成後，整體局勢開始產生微妙變化。相較於過去較為激進的Square，Enix一直與任天堂維持穩定合作關係，特別是《勇者鬥惡龍》系列長期與任天堂主機同步發展。這層關係在合併後成為重要的緩衝，使新公司得以用「全新身份」重新與任天堂建立合作，逐漸淡化過去的對立情緒。

同一時期，市場格局的變化也加速了雙方關係回暖。隨著任天堂DS與Wii在全球熱賣，Square Enix意識到這塊市場的潛力無法忽視，開始積極在任天堂平台上推出各類作品，包括經典復刻與外傳系列，雙方的商業合作因此迅速升溫。

真正具有象徵意義的和解時刻，則出現在2015年。當克勞德·史特萊夫登場於任天堂明星大亂鬥時，這不僅是一個角色客串那麼簡單。克勞德作為當年《Final Fantasy VII》轉Sony陣營的代表性角色，曾被視為Square「背叛事件」的象徵之一。如今他能出現在任天堂最具代表性的跨界作品中，意味著任天堂已經真正放下過去的恩怨，將Square Enix視為合作夥伴，甚至是「自家陣營的一員」。

從決裂到和解，這段關係的轉變不只是商業策略的調整，更是一段橫跨十餘年的產業恩怨與權力結構變遷的縮影。

When discussing how furious Yamauchi Hiroshi was over Square’s “defection,” it’s important to understand that this was not mere dissatisfaction—it was perceived as a deep betrayal. At a time when hierarchy and loyalty were highly valued in the industry, Square didn’t just shift to Sony’s camp; it also brought along multiple developers, which 任天堂 saw as a direct challenge to its authority.

It was widely rumored that Square executives made several attempts to visit Kyoto in person to apologize to Yamauchi, even bringing gifts in hopes of easing tensions. However, they were reportedly denied entry and never granted an audience. One oft-cited remark attributed to Yamauchi was: “If you love CD-ROMs so much, then don’t come back.” This statement reflected his anger not only at Square’s departure but also at its embrace of disc-based technology, symbolizing a complete breakdown in relations.

Beyond the emotional fallout, the conflict extended into business. Leveraging its strong influence over retail channels, Nintendo was said to have limited the in-store promotion and visibility of Square’s games, further deepening the rift. At the time, media outlets described the two companies as “parallel lines that would never meet,” underscoring how irreparable the relationship seemed.

A turning point came in 2003 with the formation of Square Enix through the merger of Square and Enix. Compared to Square, Enix had maintained a relatively stable relationship with Nintendo, particularly through the long-running Dragon Quest series, which consistently aligned with Nintendo platforms. After the merger, this connection acted as a buffer, allowing the newly formed company to re-engage with Nintendo under a “new identity,” gradually easing past tensions.

At the same time, shifting market dynamics accelerated the warming of relations. With the global success of the Nintendo DS and Wii, Square Enix recognized that Nintendo’s ecosystem was too significant to ignore. The company began actively releasing titles on Nintendo platforms, including remakes of classic games and spin-offs, strengthening their commercial ties.

The most symbolic moment of reconciliation came in 2015, when Cloud appeared in Nintendo Star Smash Bros. This was more than just a character crossover. As the iconic protagonist of Final Fantasy VII—the very title that represented Square’s shift to Sony—Cloud had long been seen as a symbol of that “betrayal.” His inclusion in Nintendo’s flagship crossover franchise signified that Nintendo had truly moved past the conflict, embracing Square Enix not just as a partner, but as part of its broader ecosystem.

From rupture to reconciliation, this relationship reflects not only a shift in business strategy but also a broader transformation in industry power dynamics and long-standing rivalries.