FF14 Director Yoshi-P Steps Down from Square Enix Board of Directors

Naoki Yoshida, the much-adored mind behind some of the most significant Final Fantasy evolutions, officially bows out from Square Enix’s board of directors amid recent corporate changes. Fans know him fondly as “Yoshi-P,” and his influence is evident in the successful overhaul of Final Fantasy 14 since its relaunch in 2013, alongside his dual role as director and producer for many expansions leading up to Final Fantasy 16 in 2023.

In 2018, riding on the success wave of Final Fantasy 14, Yoshida found himself on Square Enix’s board. Yet, it seems this wasn’t entirely his decision. In a candid 2023 chat with a Dutch newspaper, Yoshi-P expressed a preference for diving into game development rather than corporate meetings. It’s revealed that he once attempted to step down but was swayed to stay.

Fast forward to now, and it appears Yoshida’s wish has finally come to fruition. As reported by Automaton, he’s no longer part of the board as of last week, possibly due to a planned corporate structure shake-up. It’s unclear whether this move was voluntary or merely a byproduct of the company reorganizing its hierarchy. Nonetheless, Square Enix has confirmed his formal resignation will follow May’s meetings with General Shareholders and the Board of Directors.

However, Yoshida isn’t parting with Square Enix entirely. He remains an executive officer, a title he has held since 2015, and will step into the executive management committee by April 1. What this shift means for the future of Final Fantasy 14 is still up in the air, especially with the much-anticipated Seekers of Eternity update due March 14, which promises fresh storylines and features like Cosmic Exploration.

Reflecting on Yoshida’s candid remarks over time, this move might just free him up to pour more energy into other gaming projects, perhaps even the long-discussed dream of porting Final Fantasy 14 to Nintendo consoles. He has also mused over reviving classic Square Enix titles, such as Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics, for new devices. There’s even been speculation about a sought-after Final Fantasy 9 remake, a topic he’s not shied away from exploring.