Sega establishes new development studio in Sapporo, Japan

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Veteran game developer Sega has announced the founding of a brand new studio in Sapporo, Japan, as translated by Gematsu. The new development arm was officially established on December 1, 2021, and is expected to be the company’s second main base of operation outside of its headquarters in Shinagawa City, Tokyo.

Sega Sapporo Studio is led by veteran Sega officer Takaya Segawa (who literally has “Sega” in his name). Segawa has been employed by the publisher for some three decades, having first joined the company in its 1992 heyday. Segawa, who became a senior executive for Sega in the spring of 2021, has been partly responsible for the production of baseball series Yakyuu Tsuku!! as well as popular MMO Phantasy Star Online 2.

The new branch of Sega is expected to focus primarily on both software development and debugging of new and upcoming projects. Staff hired from the local area will assist in the testing of game builds — isolating bugs and other design flaws for the attention of the main development team. Sega hopes that Sapporo Studio will help to bring new employees into the company while improving the economy and industrial status of the prefecture and its people in general.