Yuji Naka, the creator of “Sonic,” has been embroiled in a controversy that has the gaming industry talking. He was recently arrested in Japan, and this isn’t the first time he’s run into trouble with the law.
This sequence of dark events has put the confidence of one of the most influential names in the world of video games at risk.
Naka could face up to two years in prison for his actions, in addition to having to pay a R$6 million fine, a fact that could harm his career even further, in addition to the scandal.
In 2022, he had already been arrested twice, accused of insider tradinga crime that involves privileged information to gain an advantage in the financial market.
However, Yuji Naka was quick to confess to the crime, admitting his involvement. However, his lawyer is working hard to get his sentence reduced and the possibility of imprisonment removed.
Naka and the insider information
The case involving insider trading on games concerns the titles “Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier” and “Dragon Quest Tact.” At the time, Naka held a prominent position at Square Enix.
So, he would have used privileged information and bought shares in the companies involved in the game development process, spending around US$ 20 thousand just on Aiming, from “Dragon Quest Tact”.
With ATeam, the company that developed “The First Soldier”, the amount spent on shares reached R$5.5 million. However, these shares were acquired illegally, unbalancing the game in the financial market.
The impact of this questionable behavior goes beyond Yuji Naka’s personal life. His position as an iconic figure in the gaming industry and the creator of one of the most iconic characters in video game history makes his actions all the more disappointing, especially to his fans.
But while Yuji Naka remains in prison, we can only await the final decision and the next steps, which are up to the defense attorney.
