Veteran Game Director Has Left Square Enix After 29 Years

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Summary

  • Veteran Square Enix director Tatsuya Kando has left after 29 years, known for his work on several fan-favorite Square Enix franchises.
  • Kando served in animation roles for multiple Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts games, later acting as director for The World Ends With You.
  • Tatsuya Kando’s departure saw an outpouring of support from fans, thanking him for his many contributions to beloved Square Enix properties.

Longtime game director Tatsuya Kando announced his departure from Square Enix after spending nearly three decades with the company, where he contributed to popular series like “The World Ends With You” and “Kingdom Hearts.” Over its lengthy career, this Japanese role-playing game giant has produced some of gaming’s most cherished franchises, such as “Final Fantasy” and “Kingdom Hearts.” Notable industry legends like Nobuo Uematsu, Yuji Horii, and Tetsuya Nomura have also worked at Square Enix during their esteemed tenure. Recently, a respected director from Square Enix has chosen to part ways with the studio.

Initially working as a character animator on Final Fantasy 7 in 1997, Tatsuya Kando’s first collaboration with Square Enix set the stage for a long-term association with their most renowned franchises. Over the years, Kando held key animation roles in numerous Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts games. His ambition to lead projects was realized when he served as director for The World Ends With You, followed by being series director for NEO: The World Ends With You. Recently, Kando has announced his departure from Square Enix.

According to a report by Gematsu, longtime Square Enix director Tatsuya Kando announced his departure from the studio following nearly three decades of service. In a farewell post, Kando reminisced about his history with the company and the “memorable moments” he had while working on some of Square Enix’s iconic game franchises. The director thanked fans for their support throughout the years and pledged to continue creating enjoyable content in the future. Kando did not reveal any details about his post-Square Enix plans.

Hey there! As a huge fan, I’ve got to say, Tatsuya Kando’s recent announcement really struck a chord with me. The outpouring of appreciation from the gaming community is testament to his incredible work at Square Enix, especially his significant contributions to two of my favorite series.

In the replies, I saw countless fans expressing their gratitude for Kando’s work on “The World Ends With You,” where he served as the director for both the original game and its remakes on iOS and Switch. His involvement doesn’t stop there; he was deeply involved with “Kingdom Hearts” too! In fact, he acted as an animation director or supervisor for almost every game in the series, including the main-series games like “Kingdom Hearts 3” and spinoffs like “Melody of Memory.”

Simply put, Tatsuya Kando has been a vital part of some truly amazing gaming experiences, and I can’t wait to see what he does next!

Veteran Director Tatsuya Kando Leaving Square Enix

Square Enix bids adieu to Tatsuya Kando as they have several high-profile game launches in the pipeline. This year, the iconic Dragon Quest series will welcome a significant remake, with the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake set to release in October, while Dragon Quest 12 is currently under development. The anticipation for the next major release of Kingdom Hearts continues to grow, with recent unveiling of several new screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 4. Tatsuya Kando’s work at Square Enix will leave an indelible mark on the Japanese gaming giant.

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2025-06-01 23:53