Sega Sets up New UK Studio for Next-Gen Games

Working with original IP rather than established SEGA franchises.

SEGA has announced that it is setting up a new studio in the West Midlands, UK, dedicated to working with new technologies like the PlayStation Vita and Wii U. The studio has one unannounced game already green-lit, currently intended for the PlayStation Vita.

The core staff is made up of people that were retained when Sega sold its Solihull-based Racing Studio to Codemasters back in 2008, says Sega West VP of Production Gary Dunn. "We're not looking necessarily to concentrate on huge blockbuster titles," he claims. "We want to do innovative new things that others haven't been doing."

Interestingly, the studio won't be working on established Sega franchises, Dunn says, working on new ideas instead. "It's absolutely new IP. If there were a way to reinvent a Sega franchise in a way that takes advantage of a new piece of technology, we wouldn't rule it out. But that's not what they're doing with the first title they're producing."

On the studio's first game, Dunn had this to say: "I'd love to give it a genre, but I don't think I can. It uses the features of the system uniquely – when people see it, they'll say, I don't think I've ever done this on a games console before. I can say it's not racing!"

At a time when many UK studios have been closing their doors, Sega's investment in our gaming industry is hugely encouraging. Recruitment's currently underway for the new studio. Check out Sega UK's job site for details.

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