Overview
- Naoki Yoshida has stepped down from Square Enix’s board of directors.
- Popularly known as “Yoshi-P”fans, he is a prominent figure behind the success of Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI.
- Yoshida will continue his role at Square Enix as an executive officer.
Naoki Yoshida, celebrated for his contributions to the acclaimed Final Fantasy XIV, is no longer part of Square Enix’s board of directors following a recent company reorganization. Widely referred to as “Yoshi-P”by enthusiasts, Yoshida played a critical role in revitalizing Final Fantasy XIV, which was relaunched in 2013, and has been directly involved in many of its expansions as well as in producing the latest title, Final Fantasy XVI.
After the monumental success of Final Fantasy XIV, Yoshida was appointed to Square Enix’s board of directors in 2018. However, during a 2023 interview with a Dutch publication, he confessed a preference for game development over corporate responsibilities, suggesting that his tenure on the board may not have aligned with his personal aspirations. Reports indicated that he had considered resigning from the board around that time but was persuaded to stay.
It appears that Yoshida’s wish to leave the board has come true approximately two years later. Reports by Automaton confirm that he is no longer listed as a board member as of last week. Square Enix has acknowledged his resignation will take effect after the upcoming General Shareholders’ and Board of Directors’ meetings scheduled for May, leaving some uncertainty about whether his departure was voluntary or part of a broader strategic shift within the company.
Yoshi-P’s Continued Role at Square Enix
Despite stepping down from the board, Yoshida will not be leaving Square Enix. He has been an executive officer since 2015 and will continue in this capacity, with an expansion of his responsibilities as a member of the executive management committee starting April 1. As the company gears up for an anticipated content reveal for Final Fantasy XIV on March 14—which will include details on the upcoming Seekers of Eternity update—it is unclear how these organizational changes might influence the game’s development trajectory.
Yoshida’s departure from the board could ultimately provide him the flexibility he desires to focus on game creation. In previous statements, he has expressed interest in diversifying Final Fantasy XIV’s platform availability, possibly considering its introduction to Nintendo consoles, and revisiting beloved classics like Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics for modern systems. He has also acknowledged the buzz surrounding a potential remake of Final Fantasy IX, a topic of much speculation among fans.
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