Two people have been arrested in an ongoing investigation into insider trading at Square Enix in Japan. Two former employees, Taisuke Sasaki, along with Balan Wonderworld creator Yuji Naka, are accused of insider trading when they received knowledge that Square Enix would partner with developer Aiming for smartphone title Dragon Quest Tact, and proceeded to buy shares in the company. According to Bloomberg's Takashi Mochizuki and his translation of a FNN report, Naka "allegedly bought 10,000 shares of Aiming for 2.8 million yen back in January 2020" when he learned non-public information about the unannounced deal. Together with Sasaki, the two are said to have purchased 162,000 shares for 47.2 million yen. Naka had a public falling out with Square Enix after the poor reception and performance of Balan Wonderworld in which he accused the company of pushing him out of the director's chair after irreconcilable differences arose during development. Square Enix recently released a statement, prior to the update of Naka's involvement in which they confirm the investigation: Concerning Media Reports on Former Employees under Investigation of Suspected Insider Trading Today, some media outlets reported that the former employees of Square Enix Co., Ltd. (hereafter "the Company") were under investigation for suspected insider

It's no secret that Balan Wonderworld is a game that suffered during development. The extent of what happened was largely unknown, with director Yuji Naka having departed Square Enix back in April 2021 following the game's release a month earlier. Taking to Twitter today, we finally have an answer - Yuji Naka was forcibly removed from the project half a year before release for several reasons which amounted to a lawsuit with Square Enix and a game that was released unfinished. Now that he's not bound by company rules, he decided to speak out. In an English translation provided by Cheesemeister3K, Yuji Naka writes, “I think it’s wrong of Square Enix not to value games and game fans. According to court documents, I was removed as the director of Balan Wonderworld for two reasons. It was done by the producer, head of marketing, head of sound, managing director, and human resources. “First, when a YouTuber’s arranged piano performance of the game music was released in a promotion instead of the original game track, turning the composer into a ghostwriter, I insisted that the original track be released and this caused trouble. “Second, according to court documents, Ohshima told producer Fujimoto that the relationship

Balan Wonderworld creator Yuji Naka has announced that he has departed Square Enix at the end of April 2021. While he stated he couldn't share the exact reason why just yet, Naka said he may enter retirement, presumably from game development altogether. The creator of SEGA's Phantasy Star Online and Sonic the Hedgehog franchise joined with Square Enix to form Balan Company, a studio created for Naka's Balan Wonderworld. A 3D action-platformer, the game features a child protagonist whisked away to a magical realm where they must restore balance to peoples' emotions. Gameplay featured many different costumes that all bestow a unique ability. Naka's departure likely comes in the aftermath of Balan Wonderworld's poor critical and commercial reception, moving less than 2,100 units in its debut week in Japan. https://twitter.com/nakayuji/status/1401050454704857088 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBX3z3WeqvQ

The older you get, the more frequently your friends will show you pop culture works from decades past and ask you if you "feel old yet." The world is showing those friends of yours grim little reminders that time is the villain who beats us all. Cast photos from cult classic TV shows populated by twenty-somethings, labeled side-by-side with the actors and actresses now in their late fifties. Best-selling rock albums featuring songs from the cringe fringes of our youth, with lyrics our adult selves cannot stand. Huge metal ball necklaces and glow-in-the-dark Tripp pants. None of it ever fazes me. Time, as best we can tell, is a linear thing. "Of course Nathan Fillion is old now," I tell my friends to their astonishment. "But no, I don't feel any differently." Balan Wonderworld fazed me. It wants to be a love letter to the gaming industry of two decades past, back when janky, early-3D platformers were a dime-a-dozen and your console's success was defined in no small part by the popularity of the mascot characters therein. Crash Bandicoot, Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon; kids banged on department store glass displays because they wanted to be those characters. That's the nostalgia trip

Square Enix premiered a new trailer for their upcoming 3D platformer Balan Wonderworld during the company's livestream presentation today. The trailer shows off a new look at the game and its main characters Leo and Emma. With the help of Balan players will restore balance to the hearts of 12 troubled souls by clearing out the Negati, physical manifestations of worry and other negative emotions. To accomplish this, players will jump, climb, fly, smash and more, as they explore a multitude of unique areas, collecting over 80 unique costumes that bestow special powers to assist them along the way. The trailer also highlights the game's co-op multiplayer mode where two players can participate in local co-op. Screenshots for chapters 7, 8, 9, mini games and the game's photo mode can be found along with the trailer below. Balan Wonderworld will launch on March 26 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pow07l5bWiE

Balan Wonderworld will get a free downloadable demo on January 28th for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Release timing will be at midnight, while the Steam version will release at 5:00PM the same day. The demo will include single-player and local co-op modes across three different Worlds. World 1, "The Man Who Rages Against the Storm", will include the first and second acts, as well as a boss battle. World 4, "The Boy Who Would be One with the Wind", and World 6, "The Girl and the Kitten", will just feature the first act. You'll also be able to check out "The Island of Tims", where you'll encounter fluffy tim creatures that have abilities you can evolve by giving them magical droplets found on the island. Developed by Square Enix's Balan Company studio and led by Yuji Naka (Sonic the Hedgehog, Nights into Dreams, Phantasy Star Online) Balan Wonderworld is an action-platformer based around a mysterious Balan Theatre. The aptly-named Balan guides protagonists Leo and Emma an imaginary world. The costumes they collect all bestow unique abilities that affect how you play through a level. Balan Wonderworld releases on March 26th, 2021.

Balan Wonderworld, from Sonic the Hedgehog creators Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima, is a new action platformer in development at Square Enix's Balan Company studio. Today, the team revealed the full opening cinematic created by Square Enix's Visual Works studio. Check it out below: Leo and Emma encounter a mysterious character name Balan, who whisks them away to another world that they must save by restoring clearing it of negative emotions. The game sports over 80 collectible costumes that each have a unique ability they bestow. Players can play alone or cooperatively, the latter making use of a "Joint Play" mechanic that allows players to use the abilities of both costumes when in proximity of one another. The game is planned to release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on March 26, 2021. You can also check out the boxart below the trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpUfLwRNDXA Boxart

During Nintendo's recent 'Direct Mini: Partner Showcase' event, Square Enix has revealed Balan Wonderworld, the new 3D action platformer from creators Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima, will release on March 26, 2021. A press release later clarifies the release date applies for all platforms the game will be available on, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. Without further ado, here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWp6KQcYkgA&feature=youtu.be

Balan Wonderworld, a new 3D action platformer from creators Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima has been revealed by Square Enix today. The game will release for a number of platforms in Spring 2021 including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch and PC via Steam. Square Enix describes the game as, "Twelve different tales await players in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. As the star of the show you can use powers from 80 different costumes while exploring labyrinth stages, filled with a myriad of tricks and traps to get to the heart of each story. As you journey through this land between fantasy and reality, you must find a way to bring balance to others and yourself." Catch the announcement trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kldZVxarIkc&feature=emb_title