Kaori Tanaka, known professionally as Soraya Saga, has announced that she is retiring from writing video games due to family circumstances. The announcement was shared through her official blog, where she outlined the personal reasons behind her decision and confirmed that she will be stepping away from game writing for the foreseeable future.
Saga explained that a major factor in her retirement is the long period she spent caring for her grandmother, who passed away at the end of 2024. According to her statement, this responsibility lasted for five years and played a significant role in shaping her current situation. She also noted that another member of her family has been facing ongoing difficulties for the past decade and now requires her support. Given these circumstances, she stated that continuing to write at the level of immersion she is accustomed to would not be appropriate at this time.
In her blog post, Saga also addressed her creative considerations. She expressed that her tendency to become deeply absorbed in writing is not compatible with her current responsibilities. As a result, she believes that stepping away from writing is the most responsible choice for now. In addition, she referenced the reception to recent works associated with the broader Xeno series, stating that Takahashi’s solo writing has been well received by fans and that she does not wish to interfere with that momentum. It is a practical reflection, and perhaps a slightly bittersweet one.
Soraya Saga has contributed writing to several major titles throughout her career, including Final Fantasy VI, Xenogears, and Xenosaga Episodes I and II. These works have remained closely associated with her name, and they continue to be frequently cited by players when discussing narrative-driven role-playing games. While her announcement confirms a retirement from writing video games, it does not reference any future professional plans beyond her current focus on family matters.
