We previously learned that SEGA Entertainment, which manages facilities related to SEGA from arcade game centers to restaurants, will have the majority of its shares acquired by GENDA. Some concerns were caused by this announcement, such as whether the iconic SEGA game centers will have their names changed after the acquisition and whether SEGA may take its hands off the arcade game scene entirely.
Famitsu interviewed the PR staff of Sega Sammy Holdings to address the above concerns. We have translated the interview as follows:
Q: Will the amusement facilities still retain the SEGA name after the stocks are transferred to GENDA?
A: The existing names of each store will be carried over even after the transfer of stocks. Although the stores will be managed under a new administration, customers will still be able to continue patronage as usual.
Q: It is assumed that SEGA’s arcade game production team still exists, but will this sale have any effects on the arcade development?
A: It’s as you recognized; our group will still continue doing the amusement device development business. Moreover, our group is also planning to optimize development resources to fit the market environment of each enterprise. For example, by shifting some of the amusement device development staff to the Consumer business which is a growing field.
SEGA’s Consumer business segment is comprised of the Console & PC Games team and the Smartphone Games team. This interview signifies that while SEGA will continue developing arcade games on its own, the company intends to focus more on console and mobile games. It also reassures that GENDA will still honor the SEGA name in existing arcade game centers after the acquisition.
In the arcade scene, SEGA is currently known to be developing Initial D The Arcade, the newest title in the Initial D racing arcade game series that will add four-player matches for the first time.
