Yuji Naka says Sq. Enix doesn’t ‘worth video games’ after Balan Wonderworld mess

In a candid Twitter thread, celebrated online game developer Yuji Naka revealed particulars a few lawsuit he filed in opposition to Sq. Enix and his wrestle to make the formidable however finally atrocious Balan Wonderworld a greater recreation.

In the thread, written in Japanese and translated by The Verge, Naka wrote that he was eliminated because the producer of Balan Wonderworld six months earlier than its launch and that he sued Sq. Enix shortly thereafter.

“Enhancing a recreation till the very finish is what being a recreation creator is, and it’s unusual to make it inconceivable to try this,” Naka wrote. “I requested my lawyer to attempt to negotiate even simply commenting on the manufacturing till the tip, however I filed go well with as a result of I used to be refused.”

He says that he was eliminated for 2 causes. The primary concerned feedback he made a few resolution to launch a YouTuber’s association of a chunk of Wonderworld’s music as an alternative of the unique music.

“I assumed it was improper {that a} piano association of the sport music by a YouTuber was utilized in a promotion for an unique recreation,” Naka wrote. “Once I insisted that the unique music be launched, it prompted bother.”

Naka said that the opposite purpose for his launch was as a result of he took difficulty with the standard of labor from Arzest, the sport studio behind Balan Wonderworld’s improvement.

“The connection with Arzest fell aside after I made feedback about wanting to enhance the sport, or about Arzest submitting the sport with out fixing bugs,” Naka tweeted.

Balan Wonderworld was a musical platformer that generated a number of early buzz; it was a brand new franchise from Sq. Enix and Yuji Naka, well-known for his work on the unique Sonic The Hedgehog video games, could be its director. Nevertheless, put up launch, the sport’s whimsical luster light, revealing shallow gameplay riddled with probably dangerous bugs.

In recreation improvement, a recreation usually has most of its items in place lengthy earlier than a launch date, and any adjustments might result in expensive delays. In his thread, Naka expressed frustration at being taken off the mission because it contravened his philosophy of constructing corrections and enhancements to a recreation up till the final minute — one thing that’s served him nicely previously. Naka, the unique programmer on Sonic The Hedgehog, shared that he got here up with the now-common conference of Sonic not dying so long as he had a single ring solely two weeks earlier than the sport was to be despatched for ultimate approval.

Naka stated that his lack of ability to proceed engaged on the sport was partly chargeable for its poor efficiency.

“I imagine the reception and opinions of Balan Wonderworld that you simply all know have rather a lot to do with this case. I’m actually disillusioned {that a} product I labored on from the start has turned out this manner,” he tweeted.

He additionally criticized his former employer, Sq. Enix, and Wonderworld’s developer, Arzest.

“[They] are corporations that don’t worth video games or recreation followers.”

In 2021, Naka left Sq. Enix and lately launched a solo-developed cellular recreation. He didn’t reveal the specifics of his go well with in opposition to Sq. Enix and apologized to his followers, saying that sooner or later he’ll be extra responsive on social media.

“I’m deeply sorry to the shoppers who purchased what I take into account an unfinished Balan Wonderworld,” he wrote.