After an eventful 25 years long career, a major figure in the video game industry says goodbye. Shinji Hashimoto announced his official retirement from Square Enix to the public on his Twitter:
“Thank you, everyone. I will retire on May 31st today. During my tenure, I am very grateful to all of you in various fields. From now on, I would like to support you as a SQUARE ENIX fan. I’m really thankful to you.”
Shinji Hashimoto played an influential part in the history of the Square Enix. During his long career, Shinji Hashimoto has had his hands in the development of many popular Square Enix games. He served as the Final Fantasy brand manager for over a decade, Executive Officer on Square Enix’s board of directors, the Head of Square Enix’s Business Division 3 for 6 years, and most importantly, the co-creator of the Kingdom Hearts series.
In May 2021, Hashimoto handed off his position as Brand Manager to Yoshinori Kitase during the Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival, stepping down to work in Square Enix Holdings as a Corporate Advisor to train future leaders of the company. Today officially marks his final day with the company.
Fans around the globe flocked to Hashimoto’s message with thanks and well-wishes, not only for his part within the Kingdom Hearts series but for the countless other franchises he had a hand in. Shinji Hashimoto’s departer seems like the end of an era for many, with some worrying about the future of the company without its older talent. However, seeing as Hashimoto had a hand in training the next generation in Square Enix leadership, we all should be in good hands.
Toshiyuki Itahana, game designer and character designer for Square Enix, tweeted an illustration congratulating Hashimoto on his retirement and thanking him for his contributions towards the company.
Regardless of opinion, Shinji Hashimoto’s long and successful career should be celebrated. He has done so much for the video game industry and will be missed.