Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda Steps Down

Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

The proposed changes were sent to shareholders and investors, outlining Matsuda’s departure plan and his proposed replacement Takashi Kiryu. Gematsu is also reporting this to be accurate.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1196d07-9747-48b1-b1e6-5689800f10f9","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -1539.56725%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -432.92631070000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -147.1826291%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -55.270464275%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -24.0172491%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] Learn more

Kiryu joined the company in 2020 as general manager for the corporate planning division of the company. In his short time with the company, Kiryu has held many different roles but seems poised to take on even more after Matsuda steps down.

[{"selector":"#anim-1773ecba-5e4d-4dbf-bc2e-3e2941ff7836","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4a29648-11ce-47d9-8659-8225287e1329","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5960f55-84bc-407c-9b40-a27d15aad57e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-087b0602-d00c-453f-8028-349d266cdc94","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e984f20-4446-4063-b473-32a2ecfd7378","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69c6314f-b894-46da-a825-c9f9b39161a9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-301882c4-0bef-4886-a991-d3b36c7a9c56","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07723d1c-d6f0-4960-b8ec-13ed25b59b78","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

Currently, this plan is only in the proposal stages and has to be approved by the shareholders before the changes can be enacted. The Annual Shareholder Meetings are held in May and June, and the decision will be voted on then.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1039ad1-c3e3-41bd-abf1-3b944db79f6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-badd2005-74ff-4d24-bb6a-1cbfdf152b4a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e3b62d1-67e0-4075-844a-0ae492dc0048","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b0e3038-f863-473e-bcdb-09c72c25dd75","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5eb2ac13-3e7e-4cac-86c6-a174e2aa7198","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe859bf8-e8f9-4e3c-8450-571eb0c2ae48","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

The news comes after a rocky few years for Square Enix. The company’s proposed plan was to utilize more blockchain technology.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ce12fea-f79f-4374-89ea-d94c37a9859f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b16f5c0b-0bb8-4134-a52a-8db84bb8b083","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4d41a2b-82bb-4587-a851-542382831aaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec517f75-adeb-4c40-a66f-b741ae820922","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-586899d4-efc4-4a4c-9cc5-cf52ec90a13c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb0717e6-f816-4db1-befe-9abb29dc57c4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38d5be8d-7a32-4bb4-8a51-fc476847b423","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c061f507-fec3-4de3-adf2-fb83d502a05a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

However, introducing NFTs in its games alienated a large portion of its audience. As a result, a slew of live service games have been canceled and had support terminated despite promises that they would continue to support the games for several years.

[{"selector":"#anim-948b52dd-d5f3-4111-8123-f9ec4e690ab0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af07f988-9af6-4de9-b7dd-9ffc7177040c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70ee1a98-4c41-4cda-8769-1d086cb6dfc8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb95c136-1d36-4aa5-b7f7-d091c725bcd6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdd078c5-76fb-45d7-a4d9-ec62eafafe06","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-206825e0-c761-4efa-80e9-316b705bfdf4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

On top of that, the creator of Sonic, Yuji Naka, was revealed to be a part of insider trading at the company along with two other employees.

[{"selector":"#anim-cd76a285-14ca-4227-9f53-115df3dc80af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-785a56b8-35e1-4479-8b59-901de72e5f38","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2841f79a-5e43-4c98-92bf-5eb089572c54","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cc7bd09-cf42-4ec8-82a2-d187d1ce8d65","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03adbf3b-4cbe-4bbb-b467-d74905ab2008","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-338eeb96-9f46-42df-9057-8255640299e4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

This occurred before Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier and Dragon Quest Tact were released. Naka and the other employees bought stock in the games to profit upon their releases.

[{"selector":"#anim-01fad720-b0f2-4148-bb7d-d78019ea999e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaffdb5e-7b9d-472b-97e1-399fdf828bf0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e568ce16-4332-4c2c-a1bd-fe5390272f4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c5cbcf4-c68c-4a56-9b2d-e6067c51f1e0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16b3bdca-902c-4595-9051-c949d1864a66","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a96655e-87be-4df0-be71-9e76355eddf6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03d227d8-347f-4a2f-bf0b-e7a7ff0d468e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-657628d5-9d99-4ad1-b88b-1b1b49d0fbdd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

Matsuda took over his role from Yoichi Wada in 2013. He oversaw company restructuring, several acquisitions of smaller studios, and the sale of multiple Western studios and IPs in 2022.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8a3aec6-3b3b-449b-a6f2-372d457fa89e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0047ff8d-fb28-43f2-b9c2-0c0149e8d7b9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44fe87cd-1f25-48a4-9582-e4ec71c316da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d645cf84-53ea-4ce7-a294-a3adea0da3ea","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29d09af8-4641-4a9c-a4c3-9659c08e0b65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5029525-8884-49c0-8818-41cb7dc2404a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca709442-1561-4172-b010-ec5ed08efaae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c661e7b-af5b-4add-8630-46d3b936db31","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Blue Rings Multiple Blue Rings Learn more

Click Below to Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-d0e4e6c2-2335-4cbb-a497-0e4c0ca14a61","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

12 Games We Thought We'd Love But Didn't

[{"selector":"#anim-9a17daae-6ab3-4221-b9e3-ff029afec5ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more