Microsoft has announced that Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has joined the ranks of Microsoft Game Studios in order to develop RPG titles for the upcoming next-gen Xbox console. According to the press release, Sakaguchi served, until Feb. 2001, as executive vice president in charge of game development at Square Enix. Sakaguchi is set to work on two Xbox exclusive RPG titles that will be published by Microsoft Game Studios.

Video Game Legend Hironobu Sakaguchi Joins Microsoft Game Studios as a
Developer for Next-Generation Xbox Platform

Father of “Final Fantasy” Series and AIAS Hall of Fame Inductee Will
Develop Role-Playing Games

REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 24, 2005 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that
Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game
studio, has joined with Microsoft(r) Game Studios to develop
role-playing game (RPG) video games exclusively for the next-generation
Xbox(r) video game platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of
the “Final Fantasy” franchise, which has sold more than 60 million units
worldwide, and was executive vice president in charge of game
development at Square Enix Co., Ltd. until February 2001.

Citing a shared vision with Microsoft for the next generation of video
games, Sakaguchi will lead the creation of two upcoming Xbox-exclusive
RPG titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios.

“Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games - traditionally a niche
market - and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the
globe,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide
Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft. “We are ecstatic to work with
Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means not only for Xbox, but
for gamers worldwide.”

“I’m excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing,”
Sakaguchi said. “A number of talented creators have signed on to help
develop these games, and I’m confident we will be able to create games
that provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.

“Microsoft’s cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform
will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for
many years,” Sakaguchi said. “I want these games to be alive with a new
vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend
the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with
my games a fond and long-lasting memory.”

Sakaguchi started his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as director of
planning and development. He was promoted to executive vice president in
1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square LA Inc. (now Square
USA Inc.) in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the coveted
Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his
groundbreaking work on the “Final Fantasy” series. In 2004, Sakaguchi
announced that he had started his own development studio, called
Mistwalker.

Xbox is coming off a blockbuster year as the only video game console to
show year-to-year growth in 2004, while competitors declined*. Driven by
epic, platform-exclusive content - including “Halo(r) 2″ by Microsoft
Game Studios, “Fable” by Microsoft Game Studios., “Ninja Gaiden” by
Tecmo Ltd., and Xbox Live(tm), the only unified online video game
console service - gamers worldwide continue to flock to Xbox for an
unparalleled digital entertainment experience.