Beautiful work they’ve composed over the years, tunes that will last a lifetime, but now, according to website Square-Enix Music Online, it’s over for the team.
Late last year, the group was stripped half naked because of budgetary reasons, with many renowned composers ending up victims of the situation.
They include:
Masashi Hamauzu (Final Fantasy XIII, Dirge of Cerberus, SaGa Frontier II)
Junya Nakano (Final Fantasy X, Threads of Fate, Musashi: Samurai Legend)
Tsuyoshi Sekito (The Last Remnant, Dawn of Mana, Founder of The Black Mages)
Naoshi Mizuta (Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy Gaiden, Founder of The Star Onions)
Kumi Tanioka (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Chocobo Series, Code Age Commanders)
Takeharu Ishimoto (The World Ends With You, Dissidia, Compilation of Final Fantasy VII)
According to Square Music Online, these folks were employed with the Square-Enix between 12-15 years, and while most of them will retire, some with continue with their careers, venturing for new work in the gaming industry.
And as for the publisher, well the website said, just like the western developers and publishers do, it’ll seek independent composers for future titles opposed to in-house composers.
Good luck to them all.
Thanks, Kotaku.
