Neil Broadley, Localization Director at Square Enix, has passed away due to colon cancer. His final message was posted on his X account.
Broadley, who shared behind-the-scenes stories about “translation”—including how to handle the Japanese-coined English term “level up”—has passed away
Broadley is a localization director who has worked on various Square Enix titles, including *Final Fantasy XI* and the *SaGa* series.He has frequently shared behind-the-scenes stories and insights about localization through his X account—such as his decision to deliberately retain the Japanese-coined English term “level up” during translation—and has also appeared multiple times on the official *SaGa* YouTube channel.
He has also given interviews that delve into his personal life, such as how he became a gaming enthusiast after playing *Pac-Man*, a game his grandmother was good at.
Mr. Broadley, who had revealed several years ago that he was battling cancer, posted a final message on his X account. The post read: “Hello to all ‘SaGa’ fans around the world.If you’re reading this message, it means I’ve passed away after a several-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer, and one of my colleagues is posting this on my behalf,” he wrote in his message to users.
He revealed that working on the “SaGa” series while battling his illness served as a “source of healing” and gave him a sense of “purpose in life.” He expressed his regret that he would not be able to see the release of his next project, but added that he was certain fans would enjoy it.
At the end of the post, he added: “Please be kind to everyone you meet—and especially to yourself. Ultimately, you are the one who must live with your own choices and decisions, and if you can accept yourself as you are, you will become a better person for those around you as well.”In addition to this message, she wrote that she hopes users will continue to enjoy the *SaGa* series, and added, “Regardless of whether you’ve played *SaGa* or agreed with my localization philosophy, I pray for your health, happiness, and long life.”
Regarding this matter, a message from Shige, who was the author’s partner, was also posted from the same account, and condolences were expressed via the official *SaGa* X account.
