The Impact of Hironobu Sakaguchis Departure on Square Enix and the Future of Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy has always been the flagship of Square Enix, and legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu recently revealed that the company almost collapsed after series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi left in 2003. Inspired by classic RPGs like Ultima and Wizardry, Sakaguchi spearheaded the development of the original Final Fantasy alongside an "A-Team" of Square's top staff members in the late 80s. The results were a breakout hit that spawned a massively popular series of JRPGs that has continued to this day.
Part of what made the original Final Fantasy such a big hit was the work of Nobuo Uematsu, a composer who would continue to make music for the series all the way up to 2006's Final Fantasy 12 and return for future installments like the Final Fantasy 7 Remake games. He recently sat down for an interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi to discuss their time working together at Square Enix and the impact their work has had on both the company and gaming as a whole.
In the interview, Uematsu explained how Sakaguchi was "the big boss" at Square, and that the company felt more like a club of university students when they were working in Hiyoshi, Japan. He says that Sakaguchi was always able to manage his staff in this kind of environment despite not having a proper corporate organization. Everyone listened to Sakaguchi, who Uematsu says had the ability to attract people around him even if he would be strict and bossy at times.
Sakaguchi's leadership was so strong that Uematsu revealed that Square struggled after he left in 2003. He described the situation as "awful," and that the organization all but "collapsed" in the wake of Sakaguchi's departure. Even Uematsu himself considered leaving the company, and many key members actually did so during the final year before Square's merger with Enix. Uematsu described the situation as the staff not knowing who to follow or what goals to work towards, but he also praised Square Enix for getting back on track afterward.
Despite the challenges faced after Sakaguchi's departure, Square Enix has continued to produce some of the most popular games in the industry, including the ongoing Final Fantasy series. The company has also seen some notable departures, with veteran game director Tatsuya Kando recently announcing his departure after 29 years at Square Enix.
In conclusion, Hironobu Sakaguchi's impact on Square Enix and the gaming industry cannot be overstated. His leadership and vision were instrumental in creating one of the most successful and beloved franchises in gaming history. While his departure caused significant challenges for the company, it has also shown the resilience and strength of Square Enix's team in continuing to produce top-quality games for fans around the world.
