Yuji Naka isn’t really bad: How a Sega legend gradually became one of gaming’s greatest villains

Yuji Naka was once hailed as Sega’s greatest game developers, perhaps only second to Yu Suzuki. However, over the years, he’s gone from being popularly credited, incorrectly, as the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog to being one of gaming’s biggest bullies, laughing stocks, and now even a criminal.

How did this happen to one of gaming’s greatest heroes? Here is his complete story, from humble beginnings as a self taught programming prodigy to his recent escapade in the Japanese slammer. This is the Yuji Naka story!

Some sources for your edification:

Balan Wonderland director reveals the wild story behind 2021’s biggest flop by Hayes Madsen @ Inverse (4/28/22)

Former Square Enix Employee Taisuke Sasaki Handed suspended sentence….by Egan Loo @ AnimeNewsNetwork (6/8/23)

Former Sonic Team head Yuji Naka arrested over insider trading by Brian @ NintendoEverything (6/1/2023)

Here’s why it’s so easy to get away with insider trading in Japan by Colin Moreshead @ Insider (7/12/2012)

Interview with Mike Wallis @ SonicCult

Interview with Yuji Naka @ Next Generation (July, 1996)

Nights - 1996 Developer Interview @ Shumplations

Pillow Talk: An Interview with Sonic Team @ Official Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 11 (Sept, 1996)

Sonic co-creator charged with illegally trading over $1M in Final Fantasy Stock by Sisi Jiang @ Kotaku (12/28/22)

Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka pleads guilty to insider trading by Jon Fingas @ Engadget (3/3/23)

Sonic X-treme @ SonicRetro

Sonic X-treme death in development | the art of failure by Stuff we play @ youtube (11/17/2019)

Sonic X-treme originally planned for 32X….by DreadKnox @ SonicStadium.org (6/14/2002)

SquareEnix Declines to Comment on Yuji Naka’s Baland Wonderland Lawsuit by Alana Hagues @ NintendoLife (5/13/22)

The Story of Sonic Team - 1997 Developer Interview @ Shmuplations

Yuji Naka Explanations about Nights Engine and Sonic X-treme accusations by Dward3390 @ r/Games

Yuji Explains Why He Scribbled Out Co-Worker From Old Nights Photo vy Josh Coulson @ TheGamer (7/6/2022)

Yuji Naka Interview by CVG (May 27, 2003) @ SonicRetro (5/2/2022)

Yuji Naka Sonic Interview - February 1995 by Gryson @ MDShock (7/19/2018)

Yuji Naka @ Twitter (7/5/2022)