SEGA is going back to the top with several hit games and others. The Japanese company is looking to expand its movie and transmedia empire. Hiring a former Disney executive, Justin Scarpone, to work on IPs like Persona and Like a Dragon, which could be adapted to film or other kinds of media like series.
Like a Dragon and Persona could have movies, according to SEGA
After the tremendous success of Sonic the Hedgehog at the box office, Shuji Utsumi, president of SEGA, has declared that the company wants to expand the reach of its IPs beyond the videogames. Names like Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, Like a Dragon, and many more are being thrown around, and with the recent hire, there’s a possibility they’re thinking of more than just new games.
Justin Scarpone is a former Disney executive who was just hired by SEGA to lead its transmedia strategy. He has worked with Disney for more than 15 years as the general manager of consumer products and interactive division.
Scarpone is currently working with Scopely as the general manager of the Asian division of games like Monopoly GO! And Stumble Guys. He will begin the position at SEGA on April 1 of this year. He made this official through LinkedIn when he talked about the plans that SEGA has.
SEGA ambitions are vast
Back on LinkedIn, Scarpone posted the following:
“The establishment of a Global Transmedia Group allows the company to advance its transmedia strategy across its wide portfolio of IP, such as Persona, Like a Dragon, Angry Birds, and more, in the coming years.”
SEGA is trying to be very aggressive with this strategy, taking advantage of the numerous IPs it owns. Movies, animated series, and other projects could be coming in the next few years.
The new Crazy Taxi game, according to SEGA, will be an AAA game; the budget has not been confirmed. Other games announced by SEGA were Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and Jet Set Radio Future. There is no release date confirmed for any of these games.
Tell us what you think about the new transmedia strategy of SEGA. Will you watch a movie or anime about Persona?
