Big changes may be coming to the publisher behind the Final Fantasy series. Square Enix has announced that its CEO, Yosuke Matsuda, is stepping down from the company, and he will be replaced by a younger executive by the name of Takashi Kiryu. Kiryu only joined Square Enix in 2020; he previously worked for a technology company that researched blockchain, web3, and other emerging technologies. Matsuda, who will officially be gone in June 2023, had been with Square Enix for what appears to be more than two decades.
From a Square Enix statement:
Under the rapid change of business environment surrounding the entertainment industry, the proposed change is intended to reshape the management team with the goal of adopting ever-evolving technological innovations and maximising on the creativity of [Square Enix]’s group in order to deliver even greater entertainment to its customers around the world.
Discussion (5 replies)
Join Discussion →Maybe they will cut it out with the crypto BS now.
Probably too late to save the company. Assuming the new guy is any better.
There is a lot of nostalgia for S/E - a couple of big titles in the right direction could quickly right the ship. They still own the rights to some very valuable IP.
I wonder how many/much, NFTs and Crypto, they'll give him as compensation. I still don't have high hopes for this company if the new guy (2020) comes from a company specializing in web3 and blockchain. Sounds like the board simply wanted someone who knows more about it to further the agenda.
Question: "you are driving towards a brick wall, what do you do?"
Square Enix: Throw out everything that might soften the blow and drive faster.