The Xmas season approaches, but for some of us, Halloween never ends. I've just finished (well, reached a grisly end within) the demo for Chiyo, a first-person horror game from Nimbus Games, set in Edo era Japan, in which you are a plucky young mystic sent by the Tokugawa Shogunate's Magical Arcane Division to investigate and cleanse a spooky abandoned mansion on the coast.
Sega's Japan-made games give the company its strongest financials in years
02.11.2023 - 22:19 / gamedeveloper.com / Masayoshi Yokoyama
Sega Sammy's newest financial report shows a decade-best performance across key categories.
The Japanese company saw strong growth for its Pachinko and Entertainment Contents (read: video games and films) business for 2023. In net sales, Sega Sammy saw ¥389.6 billion (or $2.58 billion) this year, up 21.4 percent from the previous year's ¥320.9 billion.
Similar rises were made in operating income (¥46.7 billion, up 46 percent) and ordinary income (¥49.4 billion, up 48.4 percent).
Sega attributed those increases to the Japanese side of its business, and in particular to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. 2022's Sonic Frontiers was noted as "one of the best games" for the entire series, and last year's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 film "helped accelerate the [brand's] growth."
Similar praise was heaped onto Like a Dragon (née Yakuza). The open-world franchise has sold 21.3 million copies, and executive officer Masayoshi Yokoyama promised the series will grow "through our transmedia strategy."
Finally, Atlus' Persona series (which has sold 17.7 million units) was also highlighted for its "significant" growth throughout the year thanks to Persona 5 Royal's overseas performance. Persona 4 Golden was also highlighted, particularly for its performance with western and European audiences.
Inspired by the transmedia success of Sonic, Sega plans to make it a "key strategy" for expanding its other brands, with co-COO Shuji Utsumi naming Persona and Like a Dragon specifically.
"By launching the best games at just the right time in tandem with the development of video productions and merchandise," he said, "we can not only grow game sales but also maximize the value of our IP."
On the non-Japan side of things, Sega Sammy CEO Haruki Satomi acknowledged its western subsidiaries, saying Europe-based titles "failed to materialize [sales], shedding a light on some issues."
Last month saw the cancellation of Creative Assembly's in-progress (and troubled) shooter Hyenas, which was reportedly one of the parent company's most expensive titles to date.
Hyenas was also believed to be Sega's previously discussed Super Game, but Satomi revealed that project is still in the works. Described as a concept that "stands head and shoulders above normal games," he noted the project is making gradual progress towards releasing by March 2026.
Sega has very high hopes for the Super Game, and at one point said it expected the project to make $600 million in lifetime sales. Satomi previously hoped it would be "so revolutionary that it attracts far more active users" than previous Sega games, and would draw in players, streamers, and avid watchers of the middle group.
"I encourage stakeholders to look forward to the fruit of our efforts," he said, "which
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polygon.com
21.11.2023 / 18:33
The OA’s success made Murder at the End of the World’s culprit clear to its creators
You don’t have to be familiar with the specifics of the mystery of The OA to know people are obsessed with The OA. The show, co-created and starring Brit Marling, is often pretty high up on the rec list for people looking for twisty, cult sci-fi hits, thanks to its humanistic approach to a zigzagging and even outright bizarre mystery. And the fanbase is still hungry for more.
ign.com
17.11.2023 / 18:51
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's Jobs Include Samurai, Surfer, and Housekeeper
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, essentially Yakuza 8, features a classic role-playing game job system that lets players become a samurai, surfer, housekeeper, and more.
videogameschronicle.com
16.11.2023 / 08:51
Sega says it’s eyeing further acquisitions, not looking to sell up
Sega is targeting more acquisitions and not looking to sell up, despite interest from “many” companies.
gamingbolt.com
15.11.2023 / 17:54
Sega Exec Doesn’t Believe the Company is Going to Get Acquired
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.
ign.com
15.11.2023 / 13:57
Yakuza Fans Bracing Themselves for 'Monster Class' Game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will be the longest Yakuza game to date, with the boss of developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio saying "if you go at it continuously, you’ll get sick".
eurogamer.net
15.11.2023 / 12:25
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a "monster-class game", says studio head
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will be a «monster-class game» longer than any previous game in the series.
wccftech.com
15.11.2023 / 09:44
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Is a ‘Monster-Class Game Longer Than Anything We’ve Made So Far’, Says RGG
Players can get a taste of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the next chapter in the franchise once known as Yakuza, by completing the recently released Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and accessing the demo added to the game by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
gameranx.com
14.11.2023 / 22:05
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Will Be Longest Game In The Franchise
There is always going to be a question about “how long video games should be, and everyone will have a different answer to things. Some will say that if they’re “too long,” people won’t finish them, and that can be true depending on the game and the player. But don’t tell Atlus that, okay? In contrast, if a game is “too short,” many people may think they’ve wasted their money, which is not what anyone wants. So, with SEGA and the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, you might be surprised that this spinoff title will be the longest game in the franchise so far.
wccftech.com
14.11.2023 / 15:21
A Recent Filing Gives the Strongest Signal Yet That Digital World and Trump Media and Technology Group Are About To Merge
This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
mmorpg.com
14.11.2023 / 14:15
The Impact Of Gacha Games On the MMORPG Scene
No matter what your favorite game is or how long you’ve been gaming for, chances are that you’ve got an opinion on gacha games and mechanics.
pcgamer.com
13.11.2023 / 14:36
Intel's 18A 'hallelujah' moment is the biggest bet the company has ever made
Despite Intel seemingly already struggling to stick to its latest round of radical roadmap promises, what with Meteor barely making its 2023 launch window, here comes CEO Pat Gelsinger sextupling down on the whole «five nodes in four years» thing and admitting that the culmination of that relentless schedule is the biggest bet the company has ever made.