Tetsuya Nomura leaves Final Fantasy XV role

Final Fantasy XV game director Tetsuya Nomura has left the project and will be replaced by co-director Hajime Tabata.

"Currently, Tabata and the entire development team are working, whole-heartedly, towards completing the production of Final Fantasy XV and ensuring the delivery of the highest quality Final Fantasy title to date. Tetsuya Nomura has mainly worked on the original concept for the [Final Fantasy XV] story and universe in addition to creating the character," said Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda, as reported by IGN.

"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. Square Enix will continue to work on these titles with the best staff formation in an effort to deliver them to everyone as soon as possible and appreciates your continued support."

Nomura first worked on the Final Fantasy franchise in 1991 when he was a debugger on Final Fantasy IV and has since been heavily involved with the series.

Tabata previously served as game director on Final Fantasy Type-0 and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.