Sega has opened a new studio in Sapporo, Japan

Sega has announced that they have opened a new studio in Sapporo, Japan. The new studio (Sega Sapporo Studio) was founded on December 1 to work on software development and debugging operations. Takaya Segawa, who has worked on Phantasy Star Online 2, Saka Tsuku series, and Yakyuu Tsuku! series, is in charge of the studio.

Sega explains that as the video game market and demand for video game content continue to expand worldwide, software manufacturers need to strengthen their game development structure. The formation of the new studio is a response to this situation. Sega Sapporo Studio mainly consists of locally hired employees, and they will work on designing, programming, and debugging Sega’s video game projects.

Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido Prefecture, which is the northernmost of the main islands of Japan. With a population of approximately 2 million people and a number of educational institutions, Sega says that it’s an attractive environment from the perspective of recruiting new talents.

In addition, the company will be able to expand employment opportunities for those who wish to work in the region where they were born and raised, as well as offer current Sega group employees a new relocation option.

Sega and parent company Sega Sammy Holdings’ headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan, along with other group companies such as Atlus, Sega Toys, and Sega XD. Although they do have overseas group companies in places like Europe, the United States, Taiwan, and Korea, their domestic operation is concentrated in Tokyo.

That isn’t to say that Sapporo is an unusual choice for a game company to set up a base. Other game companies such as h.a.n.d. (NEO: The World Ends with You) and NDcube (Super Mario Party) are based in Sapporo. Not to mention companies like DIGITAL Hearts and Pole To Win, which both have a Sapporo branch for quality assurance and debugging operations. It appears to be a feasible place to set up a secondary office.

Sega Sapporo Studio’s official website and recruitment page can be found here.