Veteran Game Developer Tatsuya Kando Leaves Square Enix After Nearly Three Decades

Tatsuya Kando, the director behind popular games like The World Ends with You, has left Square Enix after working at the company for 29 years. He shared the news on Twitter recently.

Kando played key roles in several well-known games during his time at Square Enix. He directed The World Ends with You and its various versions, including Solo Remix and Final Remix. He also served as series director for NEO: The World Ends with You and directed Final Fantasy: All The Bravest. Beyond directing, Kando worked as an animation supervisor on many Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy games.

私事ですが、5月31日をもって、株式会社スクウェア・エニックスを退職しました。

在籍した29年間、「ファイナルファンタジー」「キングダム ハーツ」「すばらしきこのせかい」などなどなど。。。たくさんのプロジェクトに関わらせていただき、かけがえのない経験を積むことができました。

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— 神藤 辰也 (@tatsuyakando) June 1, 2025

In his Twitter message, Kando explained that he officially left the company on May 31. “Over the past 29 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on many projects, including Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and The World Ends with You, and the experiences I’ve gained are irreplaceable,” he wrote.

The developer thanked fans for their support throughout his career. “The support from everyone who played the games has been incredibly encouraging, and it served as a driving force that pushed me forward in development every day. I’m deeply grateful. Thank you so much!”

While Kando didn’t reveal his next plans, he promised to keep creating content that makes people happy. “Going forward, I will continue doing my best to create enjoyable content that brings smiles to everyone’s faces,” he said. Kando’s departure marks the end of a long chapter at Square Enix, where he helped create some of the company’s most creative and unique games. Fans of his work will likely be watching to see what projects he takes on next.

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