Veteran Illustrator Departed from Square Enix

Key Takeaways

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Toshiyuki Itahana, a longtime artist at Square Enix known for his work on various Final Fantasy titles, has departed the company after more than 30 years. His departure comes as he felt a sense of accomplishment following the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX and sought new challenges.
Square Enix is undergoing significant changes, including a shift towards multiplatform game development. However, their indie label, Square Enix Collective, has experienced layoffs.
Some of Square Enixs recent projects, such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Final Fantasy XVI, and Foamstars, have not met internal sales expectations, leading to the cancellation of several other projects that did not meet updated quality standards.
The future game development and creative direction at Square Enix are uncertain, with layoffs affecting both the American and European branches of the company, as announced by Takashi Kiryu in an internal meeting.

Departure of Final Fantasy Art Veteran Toshiyuki Itahana Marks New Challenges After 30 Years at Square Enix

Toshiyuki Itahana may not be a household name, but fans of Final Fantasy, particularly Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XIV, are likely familiar with his work at Square Enix. After more than 30 years at the company, contributing character designs, art, interfaces, and game systems to various Final Fantasy titles, Itahana departed in 2025. He told fans that he had considered staying on for many more years, but ultimately decided to leave Square Enix at the end of the previous year. As character designer for Final Fantasy IX, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, Itahana said this milestone influenced his decision. The Japanese artist explained that after completing work for the 25th-anniversary celebrations, he felt a sense of accomplishment and recognized that it was time for new challenges. Throughout his tenure at Square Enix, Itahana was known for his character illustrations in Final Fantasy IX, art for Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Lightning Returns, and various Crystal Chronicles games.

Square Enix’s Shifting Direction Amid Layoffs and Canceled Projects

Itahana’s departure comes amid broader changes at Square Enix, including the company’s move toward multiplatform game development. However, their indie label, Square Enix Collective, has experienced layoffs. Reportedly, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Final Fantasy XVI, and Foamstars—all initially released exclusively on the PlayStation 5—did not meet Square Enix’s internal sales expectations. Consequently, Square Enix has canceled several projects that did not meet their updated quality standards. Takashi Kiryu announced in an internal meeting that layoffs would affect both the American and European branches of the company. It remains to be seen how these changes will ultimately affect Square Enix’s future game development and creative direction.

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