Square Enix is preparing for what could be a new game title with their trademark application for a property known only as Voice of Cards. The trademark application process was successful for Square Enix as of today, officially opening the door for new possibilities for the future title.
The US trademark application was originally submitted on June 16, 2020, with the foreign filing date in Japan as early as January 16, 2020. Square Enix’s trademark is technically a service mark, which has the ability to cover the property Voice of Cards without there actually being any physical games or salable merchandise to cover.
Though the application process has been successful up to this stage, there are still steps that must take place before the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) will the publish the mark. An examining attorney must look over the mark to make sure it meets all the required rules and statutes and is the final say on the mark’s approval for publication. Square Enix’s mark covers a surprising multitude of aspects surrounding the three-word title, Voice of Cards. In the trademark application document are fields detailing the trademark’s coverage, which concerns everything from actual computer and video game software to toys, amusement arcades, and animated cartoons.
For Square Enix, wading through the intricacies of the legal process will hopefully result in a new IP that could lead to another successful franchise. The company is widely known for its long-standing franchises, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Both of these series are heavily steeped in RPG elements and both still remain relevant today. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake was lauded upon its release back in March and another Dragon Quest title, Dragon Quest Tact, is in the works.
As for Voice of Cards, it's too early to know exactly what the title will be like. The name does hint that it has something to do with cards, which is not the most familiar territory for Square Enix. There is a Final Fantasy TCG, but nothing that has received the same mainstream attention in video game format like Blizzard's card game based on World of Warcraft lore, Hearthstone.
Whether Voice of Cards is planned to be a digital card game or just the name for another RPG game in Square Enix's arsenal won't be known for a while now. The entire trademark application and approval process can take up to a year to complete. But fans of Square Enix games can be confident in the knowledge that the company has plans for new material in the future.
Source: USPTO Trademark Report