Akihito Yoshida leaving Square Enix (FFT,FFXII,FFXIV main artist / characterdesigner)

[AdvancedWind]

Relevant since he is (or was?) working on the original XIV and A Realm Reborn. Also worked on all Ivalice Alliance games, as well as the Tactics ogre series.



We're down one Yoshida now, guys.

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/12/05...s-square-enix/


Someone please hug me, then tell me he will still work on Braverly Second and FFXIV. Please.

[Raminax]

Well, we could always be hoping that he's just going freelance or something and will be hired by Squeenix every now and then again.

But yes, a shame. I loved (well, I still love it ><) Akihiko Yoshida's art style.

[Munba]

I think he'll continue to work on the actual projects as well.

In any case, a HUGE loss for SE indeed..

[Madsamurai]

He's already more or less confirmed for the second Bravely Default and as the lead Concept artist for FFXIV as a contractual staff since his official departure from SE was last November. Dude deserves better and seeing that SE is going the mobile game path in Japan.. he's better off working with serious developers on real games and just freelance with SE from time to time.

[DragonSlayer45]

Does that mean the next expansion will have an extra helping of belts and zippers courtesy of Nomura?

He's still working as a freelance, but it is a shame. His artwork's amazing, I would buy a game with Yoshida's sticker on the artwork in a heartbeat. Square Enix just lost great talent.

[Shirai]

Thinking (more hoping) that he's indeed going Freelance.
To be fair, for a man of his talents it'll be a huge advantage to not stick with to single company like he has for the last 18 years but to enable himself to be hired by several parties for different projects.

I mean Nobuo Uematsu started working for himself a couple of years ago as well and still does the occasional SE project.
But see where it got him, not to speak of Yoshitaka Amano.

[AdvancedWind]

Does that mean the next expansion will have an extra helping of belts and zippers courtesy of Nomura?

Since belts are no longer displayed and there are no zippers on Eorzea, I don't think Nomura would want to work on this game.

[coffeeking]

noooooooooo don't leave us

[Raminax]

Nomura is busy taking over Squeenix (and soon the world) anyway. Isn't he the lead director for Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III, which is more or less the two biggest upcoming games from Squeenix?

[Yazoo]

Hope to see his new works soon.
And it will be great if he continue works on FF XIV.