Matsuda stepping down as Sqenix President and CEO

[Soge01]

Glad Matsuda is finally gone, but I'll wait and see what this new CEO does.

[Fellgon]

Indeed square have failed in many games with him: Marvel avengers, GUA of gallaxy (didnt sold well cause marvel avengers flop) flopspoken, crisis core (didnt sold well despite awesome game), NFT (nobody wants that).
Im really not surpised!

[hynaku]

I hope the new CEO puts more money into FFXI so we get more updates faster.

[Amenara]

So if SE keeps making bad decisions and eventually crumbles this could possibly mean that FFXIV could be over soon. Unless someone buys the IP from SE before they fail

I have a feeling Sony would purchase SE if it came to that.

I hope the new CEO puts more money into FFXI so we get more updates faster.

Unironically I am 100% agreeing with FF11 needing more money. Would be nice to see some big QOL updates like removing playonline completely and having a FF11 launcher and friendslists that are integrated in game instead of through playonline.

[Mcg55ss]

Well we can just hope that NOW Yoshi-P's request for additional funding for FFXIV will be approved. I heard he asked before and was rejected hopefully now he can get better funding, grow his team where he sees it needs it and develop more for the game. Course this also could be worse but i can suck on some hopium for now.

[Raoabolic]

"I would say it's time for the SE CEO to step down. Heck, Sakaguchi was canned for less, lmao."
*posted on the 23rd of last month*
*thread gets locked by mod*
*this happens*
O-Oh man. I'm sorry Matsuda. I was only fun posting! I didn't mean nothin' by it! ...What if this means they really do read the forums?!

[Vyrerus]

The corporate side of Square hasn't been good within the last 20 years. I expect the devil we don't know to be the same or worse.

[LittleArrow]

I'm concerned this new President will try to take over FFXIV. I know Matsuda and Yoshi had an agreement that Yoshi had full creative control / direction of the game. The last time this happened at Square after the failure of Spirits within, the President basically threw caution to the wind and dived head first into the sequel territory to try and milk the franchises as much as possible to recoup money. I truly hope this President doesn't kneejerk try to take over xiv to milk it to make up for the awful decisions Matsuda made with selling some of their biggest franchises for only 300mil and the whole blockchain thing.

I'm also very worried for FF16. We all knew forspoken was going to fail, it looked awful. FF16 actually looks great and a return to form. I'm really worried about this. I hope Yoshi puts out a statement.

This also worries me for the fanfest. I was fortunate enough to be chosen, and after being a fan of final fantasy basically my whole life (I'm in my 30s now...) I was so happy to get to celebrate FFXIV with the dev team. I hope they don't cut funding and cancel. T.T

[Derio]

Hopefully a change in direction from NFTs. Pretty sure META failing which is designed around selling NFTs should be a clear sign, especially when you see a company losing billions of dollars.

[LittleArrow]

So for those hoping the NFT route was going to be abandoned, I think you all may be disappointed.

https://novacrystallis.com/2023/03/t...x-ceo-in-june/

"...but it will also be important to approach new content and technology with flexibility and without fear of change when it comes to building new potential users. This also applies to their Web 3.0 strategy, in which Kiryu plans to continue to follow this path as he sees it as a potential to lead to the company’s next opportunity for growth."

The Web 3.0 strategy involves NFTs. I don't know if this is 100% accurate with what he was saying, but check out the article, it's a good read.