This story is really underwhelming - it's opened to mixed reviews.

[ShadowyZero]

Really shows that Ishikawa was holding up the game for the last five years. We'll not see her like again.

wrong person my guy, ishikawa was amazing for the game she wrote the storyboard for dark knight quests which are widely praised as well as wrote most of the main shadowbringers one which is also widely praised if anything her absence is whats kinda hurting the general story vibe and emotions that come with it, but writting a light-hearted and gentle journey is not here expertise which is why they likely decided to not have her write in this Dawntrail story and also Yoshida had stated he wants Dawntrail to be a soft reset as well so expect it to be this way for at least 2 major patches in the point 3 patch we'll see some developments toward the next story arc

[Riastrad]

wrong person my guy, ishikawa was amazing for the game she wrote the storyboard for dark knight quests which are widely praised as well as wrote most of the main shadowbringers one which is also widely praised if anything her absence is whats kinda hurting the general story vibe and emotions that come with it, but writting a light-hearted and gentle journey is not here expertise which is why they likely decided to not have her write in this Dawntrail story and also Yoshida had stated he wants Dawntrail to be a soft reset as well so expect it to be this way for at least 2 major patches in the point 3 patch we'll see some developments toward the next story arc

She was promoted to a managerial position and will never write in the same capacity again as her duties are far more broad than before. Maybe a few stories here or there sure, but I doubt she will ever find the time now that she will more than likely be very busy.

Harada of Tekken fame posted a tweet about how game devs in Japan often end up being pushed for promotion only to never work in the same capacity on the series that they poured themselves into for years on end. Don't be surprised when a lot of the talent that made the game great end up being pushed away due to new responsibilities.