Nomura removal from Final Fantasy XV a Square decision

Tetsuya Nomura's leaving as director of Final Fantasy XV was a decision made by Square Enix, the man himself has said.

After ten-plus years of working on the project as its director since its days as Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Square announced last week Final Fantasy Type-0 director Hajime Tabata would take over the project as its sole director, having been announced as its co-director following XV's re-announcing at E3 2013.

As for Nomura, who had worked on its concept, story and universe, the company announced he would now devote his time to Kingdom Hearts III and the team building that.

"Hereafter, he will be focusing his efforts on the production of titles that can only be made possible by Nomura, himself, and delivering products that exceed the quality of past titles, starting with another one of his representative projects, Kingdom Hearts III," noted Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda in the statement announcing the news.

Nomura has now confirmed his departure was a company move, not one he made himself. But not much else in speaking with Famitsu.

"It was the company’s decision, I can’t say anything more than that," he said, as translated by Nova Crystallis.

Final Fantasy XV will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, though currently without a date. Demo Episode Duscae will launch next year and comes with copies of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.