Gone with the wind: has Fumito Ueda left Sony?

The website claims that the creative power-house is working on completing upcoming title The Last Guardian in a freelance capacity. Once finished, it's reported that Ueda will leave Sony in order to pursue personal projects.

The developer's departure from Sony has apparently been the catalyst for the game's development issues.

The Last Guardian was originally due to release this fall on PlayStation 3, but was delayed until 2012 earlier in the year.

If true the news will serve as a heavy blow to Sony, fans and the industry in general. Ueda has produced some of the most memorable games in recent memory, and its hard to imagine another publisher giving him the same kind of freedom he has enjoyed at Sony.

We've contacted the platform holder for comment and will update if we hear anything back.