Square Enix announced today a partnership with Gas Powered Games, marking the first time the Japanese company has struck up a deal with a firm outside Japan. We've heard that Square Enix planned to expand west lately, and this seems to be their first step.

Gas Powered Games is best known for their Dungeon Siege RPG series, and now they'll be put to work on the sequel to the real-time strategy Supreme Commander for Square Enix. 

“This strategic partnership represents one of the first steps Square Enix ... are taking towards their goal of increasing Western development efforts aimed for the global markets,” the company said in a released statement. "Additionally, Square Enix's foray into the real-time strategy genre is a significant expansion of its product lineup.”

After this interesting first step, we wonder who Square Enix will partner with next.

[Via Edge]