Okay, so this is kinda sad news for RPG fans like me. Toshiyuki Itahana, the character designer from Square Enix, has retired after over 30 years! He’s worked on a ton of Final Fantasy games, but I think most of us will remember him best for designing the characters in Final Fantasy 9 – that game just looked amazing.
According to a recent statement reported by VGC, artist Nobuhiro Itahana had intended to leave Square Enix after the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9. He explained that as he considered how to continue creating art for years to come, he made the decision to leave the company at the end of last year.
Last year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, which was a huge moment for us. We were so happy to see so many fans celebrating FF9 with us! Thank you to everyone who joined in the festivities, visited our exhibitions, shops, and cafés – we really appreciate your support! (And you can still check out the collaboration café in Osaka!)
Okay, so I just finished up all the art and oversight for the game’s 25th anniversary stuff, and honestly, it feels amazing to have delivered on what I was asked to do. But it also feels like the perfect time to move on and start looking for new projects – a fresh start, you know?
He’s not retiring, despite appearances. Instead, Itahana is becoming a freelancer and will use his years of experience to keep making art in many different styles.
I’m still developing my skills as an illustrator, taking advice from experienced freelancers and learning as I go. If you see my work anywhere, I’d really appreciate your support!
To the players of the Square Enix games I helped create, and to all my wonderful colleagues, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly appreciate your support and hope it continues.
The news of Itahana leaving follows a period of quiet regarding the long-awaited Final Fantasy 9 Remake. Rumors about the remake started in June 2023 and resurfaced in 2024, with claims that development was well underway. Reports suggested the remake would maintain the original game’s turn-based combat and wouldn’t be as radically different from the original as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.
The rumors were true about a remastered version of Final Fantasy Tactics, and it’s been well-received. However, a remake of Final Fantasy 9 seems to have been put on hold. While Square Enix mentioned several projects to mark the game’s 25th anniversary, the remake wasn’t among them. It’s still possible it could happen eventually, but for now, it’s more realistic to expect Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4 first.
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Can You Visit Casino Sites While Using a VPN?
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Transformers Powers Up With ‘Brutal’ New Combaticon Reveal After 13 Years
- 5 Best Things 2010s X-Men Comics Brought To Marvel’s Mutants
- Lies of P 2 Team is “Fully Focused” on Development, But NEOWIZ Isn’t Sharing Specifics
- 5 Xbox 360 Games You Forgot Were Awesome
- If you ditched Xbox for PC in 2025, this Hall Effect gamepad is the first accessory you should grab
- Unveiling the Quark-Gluon Plasma with Holographic Jets
2026-01-06 00:11