Shuji Utsumi

Shuji Utsumi has been appointed President and COO at Sega, as well as Representative Director CEO of Sega of America, and CEO of Sega Europe.

An animated Golden Axe series is in the works at Comedy Central, based on the popular Sega video game series of the same name.

Comedy Central has announced a 10-episode animated series based on the classic Sega game Golden Axe.

Sega has hired former Disney and Scopely executive Justin Scarpone to lead its transmedia strategy.

Shuji Utsumi has been named president/COO and CEO of Sega America and Europe.

Sega has announced some significant restructuring at the top of its western business’ hierarchy. Shuji Utsumi, who had been serving as Sega of Japan’s co-COO and the head of its game contents and services umbrella, has been appointed as the new President, CEO, and COO of Sega America and Sega Europe. He will take on his new role on April 1.

Industry veteran Jurgen Post (pictured) has returned to Sega Europe after over six years.

The original creators of Jet Set Radio are involved with the series' new games announced last week.

Japanese games giant Sega is making new entries in a number of its existing franchises.

Sega appears to be teasing an announcement for The Game Awards next week.

Sega's gracing our news pages a fair bit today. Firstly for being the subject of unfair labour practice allegations by its unionised workers, and now for, ah, talking up the possibility of films based on the Persona and Yakuza series. A bit of an awkward transition, but you play the hand you're dealt.

SEGA Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi spoke with CNBC at the recent Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon. The COO tackled a variety of topics, including the acquisition rumors that followed Microsoft's interest in the Japanese company. However, Utsumi-san dismissed the notion of a buyout:

Japanese games giant Sega is apparently looking to expand its operations.

Sega is targeting more acquisitions and not looking to sell up, despite interest from “many” companies.

Sonic has been enjoying renewed popularity in recent years thanks to the two Sonic the Hedgehog movies that have become some of the highest-grossing video game adaptations. Sega hopes to capitalize on this by bringing more of its franchises to a non-gaming audience.

After the mega success of its Sonic movie adaptations, Sega says Yakuza and Persona don't have to just be video game series.

Sega has said it’s keen to expand the reach of its biggest franchises beyond video games.

It’s not surprising when we hear about a studio being acquired. That has been a trend for a little while now. Sony and Microsoft have been acquiring studios, and it was just Microsoft recently that developed a massive purchase. Microsoft made the purchase to acquire Activision Blizzard. Now, this was no small feat. It cost them an enormous amount of money. After dealing with regulators, the deal finally went through. But through these regulators and court hearings, tiny bits of information surfaced from behind closed doors. One of those dealt with Sega. A company that has been around for ages and even offered a console competitor for a time. 

From Yakuza/Like a Dragon and Persona getting Xbox releases to several of its major titles being day one Game Pass games, Sega has had an excellent relationship with Microsoft in even years, to the point that the Japanese company was even one of several being eyed by Microsoft as an acquisition target. And with the industry caught up in an acquisitions race in general, whether or not Sega is a company that will also get snapped up by a larger group is a question that’s been asked by many.

Film adaptations of Sega franchises like Persona and Yakuza/Like a Dragon are a possibility, the company has said.

Sega's curious 'Super Game' project, originally announced back in 2021, has finally received a brief update from co-chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi.

Sega has said development of its first “Super Game” is progressing steadily.

Amid the many and varied documents coming out of Microsoft’s battle to buy Activision Blizzard for $69 billion are emails and strategy slides revealing companies on Xbox’s potential hitlist. It seems most video game publishers have at one point fallen under the eye of Microsoft's mergers and acquisitions team, including Square Enix, Sega, and even Nintendo.