The Final Fantasy franchise stands as Square Enix's crowning achievement, but few realize how close the company came to disaster when series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi departed in 2003. In a recent revelation, legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu shared how Sakaguchi's exit created an organizational crisis that threatened to dismantle the gaming giant.

Drawing inspiration from classic RPGs like Ultima and Wizardry, Sakaguchi assembled Square's elite "A-Team" in the late 1980s to develop the original Final Fantasy. The game's unexpected success launched one of gaming's most enduring franchises, with its musical identity shaped by Uematsu's iconic scores from the first title through Final Fantasy 12 and beyond, including the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.

During a candid interview on the NOBIYO To Isshoni podcast (translated by Automaton), Uematsu described Sakaguchi's unique leadership style. The composer recalled how Square felt more like a university club than a corporation during their early days in Hiyoshi, Japan, with Sakaguchi naturally commanding respect despite the informal structure. "He had this magnetic ability to unite people," Uematsu noted, "even when he was being demanding."

Uematsu's most startling revelation concerned the chaos following Sakaguchi's 2003 departure. "The situation was awful," he admitted. "Without his direction, the company essentially collapsed." The composer himself considered leaving during this turbulent period, as did many key staff members in the lead-up to Square's merger with Enix. Employees struggled with unclear objectives and leadership, though Uematsu praised Square Enix's eventual recovery.

Uematsu left in 2004 to pursue freelance work, later reuniting with Sakaguchi for projects like Blue Dragon and Fantasian Neo Dimension, which he considers his final game. Meanwhile, Square Enix continues the Final Fantasy legacy with upcoming titles including a third FF7 Remake installment and rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake.

Despite past turbulence, the franchise remains strong. Final Fantasy 16 continues the tradition of epic storytelling in a dark fantasy world where powerful Eikons shape destiny. The game follows Clive Rosfield, a warrior sworn to protect his brother Joshua, the Phoenix's Dominant, before tragedy sparks a quest for vengeance against the calamitous Dark Eikon Ifrit.