More Warnings Further Restructuring Could Spread
We told you that while we had our doubts about the whole of Sega Europe closing, that initial report helped an April report from Sonic Paradise look a lot more believable. Now, there is word at least one domino will be falling in the region.
Over the weekend, two reports surfaced that claimed Sega’s division in France could be closing up shop by the Summer. One, from Canada’s GameFocus, says the division will close outright by the end of the Summer, with notice given to employees in an E-Mail. The second, via a tip from French Canadian website JeuxOnline to GoNintendo, indicates one of Sega France’s top PR personnel, Franck Sébastien, is leaving the company due to ongoing restructuring. Of note in the latter is word that Sebastien let his employees know what was going on in an E-Mail, and alluded to more restructuring changes for both European and American divisions within that E-Mail. As of this article’s publication, Sébastien’s LinkedIn profile still lists him with the company.
Chatter like that is very hard to ignore. Then, there is this: When we sought help to learn more via Twitter over the weekend, we received this info in from Bruno Guerrero, one of our followers in France:
For some unknown reason, Sega French blog launched several surprise flash giveaways, offering free old stuff incredibly easily. Also, for the first time in a while, Sega seems to have no booth in Japan Expo french convention. Those aren’t proofs, I know.
That Sega may not have a presence at one of France’s largest pop culture shows is a bit of a shock, given how much effort the company has placed there in previous years. With all of these details, it’s just as we told you even when the Sega Europe closure rumor was downplayed–something is up. We will continue to monitor developments. Thanks to AugieD who also tipped us on Twitter.
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Dear God, I’m kind of scared to be honest. SEGA isn’t the best gaming company in the world’s history, sure. But this company gave us Sonic, Billy Hatcher, vectorman, Ristar, NiGHTS, Super Monkey Ball, and much more. It depresses me to see such a revolutionary company slowly crumble. For now, I’m going to assume the worst case scenario will happen, because I know someone will do something about all of this, which will lift my spirits.
Good luck, SEGA…you’ll need as much as you can get…
SEGA you’ll need all the help you get from your main franchises because a gaming company of your calibur shouldn’t have to go through this…..
I’m not going to lie, and please don’t flame me for this, but I actually want SEGA to die out.
It makes me wonder if any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd party will take one of SEGA’s franchises (Sonic, specifically).
Of course though I do not want Sonic to go away any time soon. The day Sonic dies is the day gaming becomes boring (for me).
And woah, I’m liking the picture on the top left of the website! I’m guessing it’s from SEGA?
Billy Hatcher was a goddamn horrible experience. Shitty controls make a shitty game.
no sega cant die i cant let this happan what well i do without sega i dont want tham to die and more importent i dont want sonic to die
well sega u need some help we will use the power of our fans and yeah
sega ran over alot time now so i think its best if sega start thinking good idea in the future without quiting
I don’t want SEGA to die now. Especially since I’ve gotten used to playing their games a lot.
Sega was better than nintendo for me.
Today, Sega is “normal”/average company.
Hmm… Shut down every company location asides the central corp in Japan…
That would certainly bring plenty of spare money the companies way. Just to have a single office full of workers. A main use for all the other corp buildings is for localization purposes and such. So all in all, it isn’t that big of a deal asides from the laid off employees.
Most other developing companies have a single building/office anyways. And most of SEGA’s titles aren’t big enough to need corp after corp located all over the place to complete. Most just need a single team and a few months to complete.
All in all, it may not be that bad of a decision, as I said, asides for those who get laid off.
I think that if SEGA America or SEGA Europe was in charge rather than SEGA Japan, the company would be a bit better off.
Franck Sebastien is the best PR ever.
This is terrifying. If Sega dies, then that means Sonic dies. I don’t know what I’d do then, Sonic means a lot to me. :’(
poor franck sébastien, this guy is holding a cool website, thanks to which i won a contest and a sonic 20th statue … If he ‘s out, The Blue Room is going down i guess …
It’s like a train wreck. It’s horrifying, gut wrenching, and heartbreaking. Yet, I’m curious to see where it’ll all end, I’ll only look away when I see that last grand explosion.