Kazuya Niinou, who directed Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center during his time at Atlus, and 7th Dragon and Black Rock Shooter: The Game during his stint at Imageepoch, has joined Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV team as assistant director, he has said on Twitter.

Niinou added that after undergoing an operation during which one of his internal organs was removed, he decided that continuing to work as a game director would be too severe. He now works under Final Fantasy XIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida, who he praises as a “magnificent boss” and one he plans to learn from.

Thanks, Hachima Kikou.