Hironobu Sakaguchi, the visionary behind the Final Fantasy franchise, departed from Square in 2003. His exit reportedly triggered significant upheaval within the company, with sources suggesting its structure “fell into disarray” following his absence.

During a recent episode of the NOBIYO To Isshoni podcast hosted by composer Nobuo Uematsu—reported by Automaton—the two veterans reflected on their Square tenure. Uematsu recalled the studio’s early days resembling a college club more than a formal corporation. Despite this, Sakaguchi’s innate leadership unified the team. His departure created an organizational vacuum, prompting Uematsu to consider exiting as well. The composer praised Square Enix’s resilience, however, noting its recovery post-merger despite losing core team members.

Though Sakaguchi hasn’t been part of Square for two decades, his influence persists. The developer recently reunited with the company for FANTASIAN: Neo Dimension, a revamped edition of his Apple Arcade RPG. Critics have likened its essence to classic Final Fantasy titles, underscoring Sakaguchi’s enduring creative imprint.