Former Dragon Quest producer Ryutaro Ichimura has criticized Square Enix for its recent focus on creating ‘safe’ video games instead of innovating. Ichimura expressed his views in a recent episode of ReHacQ, revealing that his decision to leave Square Enix was hastened by the company’s shift towards developing projects modeled after existing successful games.

“To put it bluntly, it was copying others,” Ichimura stated regarding the direction of the company.

Ichimura reminisced about the earlier days of Dragon Quest, which he feels were characterized by significant innovation, contrasting them with the current state of the company that, according to him, prefers to replicate proven successful concepts. He highlighted that the early games in the Dragon Quest series were all about pushing boundaries and utilizing the newest hardware and game mechanics.

Ultimately, his departure signifies a growing discontent among developers regarding the industry’s trend towards risk-averse designs, particularly within established companies looking to maximize profits without venturing into uncharted territories.