Japanese software house Square Enix is looking for people to work on developing a new action game. One such purchase is a former Capcom developer, Ryota Suzuki, who will fill the role of expert in action scenes e battle design. Suzuki's resume fits the task admirably: he worked on Dragon's dogma such as Gameplay Lead and Game Design Lead on Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen; he held the role of Designer for Devil May Cry 5; finally he helped in the programming of Monster Hunter: World and its expansion Iceborn.
As we read from the interview on SE's recruiting page, Suzuki leaves Capcom in 2019 to join Square Enix as Battle Director of a new AAA title. There isn't much information on this title, as the post's purpose is to attract only new candidates. But it is possible to draw some conclusions from Ryota's words.
“Square Enix is known for its RPGs and static control battle systems. Something old style and labeled in the West as JRPG. With the increase of hardware capabilities, and the arrival of new generations, RPGs require more and more action elements. The goal is to create a high quality RPG game with globally appealing action elements. We want to reach the maximum both in terms of RPG and Action “.
Ryota Suzuki, designer of Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon's Dogma, has joined Square Enix as the battle director of a new AAA title under the third business development division. This division is Naoki Yoshida's (FFXIV) and this AAA title has been rumored to be Final Fantasy XVI pic.twitter.com/9fGX9QX0Ml
- Bring Peanut Butter (@Dreamboum) June 6, 2020
Ryota Suzuki has joined Square Enix's Business Development Division 3, which also includes Naoki Yoshida. Recently some rumors about it have been denied by Yoshida himself, but it seems that this division is working on a mysterious project characterized by a soulslike combat system, overro much more action. Could this be the much-rumored Final Fantasy XVI? We cannot totally rule it out.
It is clear that the information in our possession does not allow us to take a precise position. Square Enix may be working on a new IP. In view of the remaining parts of Final Fantasy VII Remake, it is really difficult to imagine that the company is already thinking about the sixteenth chapter. We will keep you posted.
► Final Fantasy XVI is an Action-RPG type game developed and published by Square Enix for PlayStation 5, The release is planned: TBA
