Naoki Yoshida leaves the board of directors of Square Enix

Producer of Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI may have chosen to step away from administration

A significant change has just happened behind the scenes at Square Enix. Naoki Yoshida, one of the most important names in the company and responsible for turning Final Fantasy XIV into one of the most successful MMORPGs of today, no longer appears on the official list of directors of the company.

The information was revealed by the website Automaton, which noticed the absence of Yoshida's name in the recent update of Square Enix's corporate structure. Up to that point, he was part of the board since 2015 and had been promoted to executive director in 2018. However, he is now only identified as an executive employee, which may indicate a demotion or a voluntary change of position.

Forced exit or personal decision?

The big question that lingers is: Was Yoshida removed from the board or did he choose to leave? So far, Square Enix has not made an official statement about the reason for the change.

On the other hand, Yoshida himself has stated several times that his true passion lies in game development, not in corporate administration. In past interviews, he mentioned that he preferred to be directly involved in development, rather than dealing with bureaucracies and executive meetings. Therefore, there is a real possibility that this decision came from him, allowing him to focus even more on Final Fantasy franchise projects.

Yoshida's impact on Square Enix

The importance of Naoki Yoshida to Square Enix is undeniable. He was responsible for saving Final Fantasy XIV, turning a disastrous launch in 2010 into one of the most profitable and respected MMORPGs in the market. Additionally, he served as producer and director of Final Fantasy XVI, one of the most anticipated titles in the franchise.

With this change in the company's structure, many fans begin to wonder what the impact will be on the production of Final Fantasy XIV, which continues to receive expansions like Dawntrail, scheduled for 2024. Will this change affect the continuity of support for the MMORPG? Or will Yoshida remain in charge of the project without the administrative pressures of the board?

The future is still uncertain

Square Enix has not officially commented on the change, leaving the community to speculate about the future of Naoki Yoshida. Either way, if this change allows him to dedicate more time to game development, fans of Final Fantasy may end up being the big beneficiaries. We must wait for more information on what this move means for the company and for the producer himself.