Sonic creator Yuji Naka goes nuclear: 'I don't think Square Enix cares about games'

pcgamer.com:

Yuji Naka, the celebrated game designer best-known for his years at Sega and as the head of Sonic Team, has posted an extraordinary condemnation of Square Enix and its approach to making games. The remarks, posted to Naka's social media account and here reproduced through an edited machine translation, relate to the development of the troubled Balan Wonderworld, and follow Naka bringing a lawsuit against the publisher for his treatment.

Some brief context on the game: Balan Wonderworld was announced in 2020 as a fantastical new 3D platformer from the creative minds behind NiGHTs and Sonic. Less than a year later, the game launched to disastrous reviews (it currently stands at 38% on Metacritic), and shortly afterwards it was announced Naka was to leave Square Enix.

At the time Naka seemed rather dejected and even considered giving up altogether: «I can't talk about the reason now,» he said then, «but I hope I can talk about it when the time comes. As for future activities, I'm 55 years old, so I may retire.»

Well, the time has come.

バランワンダーワールド発売の約半年前にバランワンダーワールドのディレクターから外される業務命令が出されましたので、スクウェアエニックスに対して裁判所で訴訟を提起していました。裁判が終わり業務命令が現時点で効力は失われていると言う事ですので、お話したいと思います。#BalanWonderworld pic.twitter.com/9KE7hLqforApril 28, 2022

«Approximately half a year before the launch of Balan Wonderworld,» writes Naka, «I was removed as the director of the game, so I filed a lawsuit against Square Enix in court. I would like to talk now that the suit is over and the company rules are no longer in effect.

»I don't think Square Enix cares about games and game fans. According to the court documents, I was removed as the director of Balan Wonderworld for two reasons."

Naka goes on to say that the producer, head of marketing, head of sound, and