Persona and Yakuza movies could be next after Sonic success, Sega says
Sega COO Shuji Utsumi recently spoke with CNBC about how the company wants to use its IP in other media forms after the success story of its mascot Sonic in theaters. The “other major IPs” that could benefit from a similar treatment in the executive’s mind are Persona and Yakuza.
And it’s not just movies Sega wants to target: “As I say, we are trying to be in a lot of different categories, different areas like Roblox, movies. All these IPs can be somewhere else other than games soon.”
Yakuza may be adapted into a movie.
Sega
Sonic’s revival seems to have emboldened the company, which currently sees its Japanese studios flourishing, while the European ventures are struggling. Earlier this year, Sega canceled the live-service shooter Hyenas, which was in development at UK-based studio Creative Assembly and basically ready for launch. At the same time, several unannounced projects got axed and cost-cutting programs were ordered at European subsidiaries.
Shuji Utsumi is trusting in the power of Sega's franchises to carry the company into better times: “I think it’s going to be coming back. As long as you have solid development studios and also solid IPs.”
Trouble in Europe does not seem to dissuade Sega from looking for further expansion opportunities. Utsumi said: “We are still looking for opportunities for growth.”
Rumors about potentially being acquired by Microsoft were shot down by the executive, who commented that Sega felt “honored” by companies being interested in merging with it. “I don’t think that kind of transaction is going to happen,” he concluded.
You can read more about Sega’s latest release in our Persona 5 Tactica review or enjoy the best music from Sonic the Hedgehog games while reliving the ten best Yakuza substories.
