Sega Europe opens its third UK code shop; studio already at work on a "next-gen" action adventure.
Sega Europe has announced the formation of a new boutique studio based in the UK's West Midlands that is set up to focus its resources "exclusively for next generation platforms." The forward-looking studio has an unnamed "unique action adventure experience" project already underway, due for release late next year.
With the new studio focusing on next-gen consoles, the unnamed title is most likely a game for the Wii U, Nintendo's just-revealed new games machine, also due in 2012, or the PlayStation Vita, which will be rolled out globally in late 2011 and early 2012. Sega's commitment to develop for the Wii U is already apparent; the multiplatform Aliens: Colonial Marines will also appear on the new Nintendo console.
The new studio will sit with Sega Europe's existing Technology Group and is the publisher's third British code shop, alongside The Creative Assembly, West Sussex-based developer of the Total War series, and London-based Football Manager studio Sports Interactive. Gary Dunn, Sega Europe's senior vice president of production, comments: "I am genuinely excited about the prospect of opening another studio at SEGA, particularly one co-located with our Technology Group…we fully intend to keep innovation at the heart of the new studio by keeping close links with the Technology Group who will ensure that this happens.”
The studio is headed by Sega technical director Chris Southall, whose body of work includes the Total War series and, during time with British publisher Codemasters, Colin McRae's Rally series. It is currently taking applications for further positions. The studio opening follows closely after the closure of another UK development studio, THQ's Digital Warrington, maker of Red Faction: Battlegrounds.
Jane rejoices in the title of Section Editor, GameSpot UK. Fears: spiders, oblivion.
I almost just had a heart attack, I read the title real quick and thought for a second that Sega was going to make a console... If only.... as far as old games go, none were as good as the Dreamcast line-up. Jet Grind, Sonic, Power Stone... nostalgia at it's finest.
The WiiU could be make or break for Nintendo I'm thinking.. I'm still perched on the fence on this one. I'd love for them to do well, but I can't help feel a similar fate to the dreamcast may be coming. Hope to god they nail it on the head though. I have a lot of love for that company.
@Batmantheorphan I was just about to post something about Shenmue III when I saw the article was about SEGA. Guess you beat me to the punch, lol.
Sadly, Sega were at the height of their game-making when they had their own hardware. Since they've become software only, things haven't gone so well. Also, to Da4biddenOne: Vanquish and Bayonetta were developed by Platinum Games - Sega just published them.
Why would any publisher open a new dev studio for a console with the same capabilities as others that have been in the market for five years? This joke of a console in going to be in the same position as the Wii once the big two release their new systems. The Wii U will be left out because it will be underpowered. And that ridiculous pad is not going to save them.
@clixshper I know man I got fooled, but I still hope SEGA will jump back in with a new console and I think there has been some rumor's about coming back with a new console. I missed playing my SEGA Genisis, SEGA CD, I never got to own a Dreamcast even though I wanted one so bad. But any way's lets just have some hope in they might introduce a new console some time soon.
Sega should just plan to drop 4 good games on the Wii U, and cash in on what Ubisoft did when the Wii released.
When I first read the head line for this article I really thought SEGA was putting their hat back in with a new console.
@SicklySunStorm hey man Sega had nothing to do with the Kane & Lynch series man and in fact the first one was Published by Eidos Interactive and Developed by lo Interactive, and Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days was Published by Square Enix and Developed by lo Interactive and that happened when Square Enix bought both publishing & developing companies. So if you are going to rant on a company make sure they published or developed the game before you put a game in the same category as what you listed. P.S. Condemned 1 &2 are awesome.
Shame they arent in the race them selves for a "next gen" console i miss sega. Even if lately they've put there name on some awful games
@ChiefFreeman Somebody hasn't looked at Vanquish, Bayonetta, and other Sega games that are doing great. Even Sonic Colors did amazingly well. Sega has made plenty of great games over time.Your probably just focused on their mistakes with Sonic. They arent just Sonic you know?
Specrac@ I agree I'm starting to get sick of them. If they haven't tried any of the recent good games they shouldn't be talking about the franchise being dead. I tried literally all the Wii and GC sonic games and I actually thought they all ranged from poor to great. I hope Generations continues the good/great game trend sonic colours started so the hate can finally die.
grasu@ The last couple of good games they published were Sonic Colors, Vanquish, Bayonetta and a bunch of others ones.
Wow, quite a few Sonic trolls here who ignore that Sonic Colors is genuinely good. And I thought this meant for PS4 and Xbox 720 and whatever comes after Wii U. I really hope we don't get new consoles until 2013 at the earliest, 2015 at the ideal time.
Always an exciting time to be a gamer. Can't wait to see what Sony and Microsoft bring next gen.
Sega doesn't even make good games with the studios they have. Where are they getting the funding to open these new studios?
Never been into Sonic, but he is all but dead. Many people I know love him, if you don't like him you can avoid buying his games, like me.
I love how everyone is saying Sonic is dead, yet is probably biting their nails with excitement of any word about FF 9001, or whatever number that godawful series is on.
They better not try and re-boot any game or bring on a dead classic like Sonic and.... errrr.... no just Sonic
@subtenko, it doesn't look like it. There many more Mario games coming out and Mario games are still selling like they were 10 years ago.
@SicklySunStorm Condemned 1 and 2 were merely published by SEGA and, at least as far the first one is concerned, they we're almost independently developed by Monolith (read: with little outside influence). To be fair I haven't played any of the Yakuza games because I find them to be way to niche. @Rovelius Don't own the Wii or the DS so I couldn't have played Sonic Colors... however, Generations isn't even out yet. It's hard to believe that, following SEGA's track record of Sonic games on multiple platforms, that Generations will be much above average.
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