Sega has always been an iconic presence in arcades – also known as arcades here in Brazil. But, after 50 years of history, the company is leaving this market, even in Japan where arcades still resist more than in other countries.
全国のSEGAのお店の屋号をGiGOに切り替えていきます。SEGAの56年の歴史への感謝と、リアルなエンタメで人々の渇望を癒すオアシスになるという思いを込めました。ゲームのオアシスに飛び込め！Get into the Gaming Oasis の頭文字をとってGiGOです。
まずは池袋、秋葉原、新宿から。そして全国へ。 pic.twitter.com/bAMbdIXEkk— 片岡 尚 / GENDA会長 (@GENDA_Kataoka) January 28, 2022
The official announcement was reiterated by the above tweet from the president of Genda Entertainment. Genda, which operates its arcades under the GiGO brand, is the new owner of Sega’s machines and arcades in Japan. In his tweet, the executive thanks Sega for its 56 years of history in the market, and warns that store signs will no longer be Sonic’s iconic brand. It’s going to be all GiGO.
Longing and nostalgic people may be saddened by the news, but the end of arcades has been visible for years around the world, a natural response to the popularization of consoles and PC gamers. Japan, in fact, proved to be one of the countries most resistant to the closing of arcades, but the trend has arrived there too.
Sega’s arcades are so traditional and iconic for the brand that they’ve always appeared in their Yakuza series titles and Judgment spin-offs. In these games, it is possible to enter arcades and play the complete arcade versions of classic titles from the producer, such as Virtua Fighter for example. Now the question remains: will the next Yakuza or Judgment still have these establishments? And will they be called Sega or GiGO?
