Naoki Yoshida, famously known as ‘Yoshi-P’ among fans, no longer holds a position on Square Enix’s board of directors amid the company’s latest restructuring. Renowned for his influential work on Final Fantasy 14 and Final Fantasy 16, Yoshida remains at Square Enix in his role as an executive officer.
Yoshida spearheaded the rebirth of Final Fantasy 14 in 2013, which catapulted the franchise to unprecedented success, and later took on the roles of director and producer for its expansions. His talents extended past the MMO realm with the production of 2023’s Final Fantasy 16. Following the success of FF14, Yoshida was elevated to the board in 2018. However, he has expressed a preference for dedicating his energy to game development rather than boardroom duties, once informed a Dutch newspaper in 2023 that he would rather focus on creating games than be in an administrative position. There were even reports that he considered resigning from his board role but was eventually persuaded not to.
A couple of years later, Yoshida finally seems to have fulfilled his aspiration. Last week, Automaton reported his removal from the Square Enix board of directors. The circumstances surrounding his departure remain somewhat unclear—whether it was his decision or part of a broader organizational shift. Nevertheless, Square Enix confirmed his official resignation from the board will occur following the General Shareholders’ Meeting and the Board of Directors’ Meeting in May.
Despite stepping down from the board, Yoshida will not be leaving the company; he retains his executive officer position, which he has held since 2015. Further solidifying his influence, he’ll join Square Enix’s executive management committee beginning April 1. It’s uncertain how these corporate changes might impact the future of Final Fantasy 14. Fans are eagerly anticipating new updates, including the Seekers of Eternity patch, which promises exciting new story arcs and features.
Interestingly, Yoshida’s departure from his board duties might offer him the creative freedom he desires. He’s shown interest in expanding the Final Fantasy universe, discussing potential ports of Final Fantasy 14 to Nintendo consoles, and breathing new life into classics like Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics by bringing them to modern systems. He’s even weighed in on the much-speculated Final Fantasy 9 remake that many fans are hopeful for. With his hands now freer, the gaming world is curious and enthusiastic about what Yoshi-P will focus on next.
