Sonic The Hedgehog creator Yuki Naka announced that he joined Square Enix.
Naka is one of the three creators of Sonic The Hedgehog and previously led the Sonic Team. However, he left in 2006 to found a new company called Prope Ltd.
Yuri Naka Joins Square Enix
Naka announced that he joined Square Enix via Twitter, but he was not offering the details. He posted a brief note that said he moved from Prope Ltd. to Square Enix.
"Just a quick note to let you know, I joined SQUARE ENIX in January. I'm joining game development as before, and strive to develop games at SQUARE ENIX," said Naka. "I aim to develop an enjoyable game, please look forward to it"
At the moment, there are no details on what projects Naka will be working on. Square Enix still hasn't commented on what will his role be at the company.
Previous Game Creations
His previous work with his former studio includes Digimon Adventure and Rodea the Sky Soldier. He started working at Sega in 1983, contributing to titles such as Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Phantasy Star.
He also served as the lead programmer for Sonic The Hedgehog and was one of the heads of Sonic Team before departing in 2006. Naka, along with Naoto Ohshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara, created Sonic The Hedgehog in 1991 and his last Sonic-related title was Sonic Riders.
The Future Of Sonic
When Naka left the Sonic Team in 2006, the company has continued to make Sonic games. The company's latest offering is Sonic Forces, which received mixed reviews. The 2D platforming levels were praised while its 3D levels were uninspired and often short, but critics acclaimed the game's character creation feature.
Sonic Team's most recent title from the franchise last year Sonic Mania received praise from critics, which saw it as a return to form for the character. Unlike Sonic Forces, the game was entirely a 2D side-scroller featuring levels inspired by the original Sonic games. While it was faithful to the original with its music and level design, critics said that it added nothing new to the series.
Leaving the video game side, Sonic the Hedgehog's official Twitter account has been praised. It's a weird mix of memes, fan content, and interaction with other accounts that make it a worthwhile follow.
Sonic is also headed to the big screen. The Sega mascot will receive the movie treatment in a film directed by Deadpool director Tim Miller. It will be a blend of CG-animation and live action.
