Latest news with #SonictheHedgehog
Time Out
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Sega Store Tokyo is now open – here's what we saw inside
Tokyo is otaku paradise. From Hello Kitty's home to various Ghibli stores, there are plenty of locations for dedicated fans to get their IP fix. Now it's time to add another to the list – Sega Store Tokyo is officially open. This is the second Sega store in the world, following the opening of Sega Store Shanghai in May 2025. With over $1 billion reported in box office receipts from the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise alone, the move to branch out with brick-and-mortar Sega stores certainly makes sense. Sega Store Tokyo is located inside Shibuya Parco on the sixth floor, which just so happens to be the same floor as the Pokémon Center, Nintendo Store, Capcom Store, Jump Store and Godzilla Store, so we recommend getting your geek on all in one go when you visit. The star of the show is the Sonic merch, natch. You'll find a wide selection of products featuring Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr Robotnik (Dr Eggman in Japan) and other fan favourites, ranging from keychains and acrylic stands to pillows and plushies. In addition to the everyday plushies, you'll be able to get your hands on three exclusive Sonic plushies not found elsewhere. Their designs are a collaborative effort between Sega and collage artist Kosuke Kawamura of 'Akira: Art of Wall' fame. While you're picking up exclusive items, don't forget your Sonic Bearbricks. Fans of the Yakuza / Like a Dragon games are also in luck, as the popular franchise is featured prominently throughout the store, in the form of items like pillows, figurines and more. There's plenty of Persona products to please the people too, namely items from Persona 3 Reload and the masterpiece that is Persona 5. Hatsune Miku merch? Check. Sega merch like mugs and jumpers are available as well. If you spend over ¥7,000 in the store, you'll receive an exclusive tumbler in one of four colours: white, black, silver or gold. The offer's only available as long as supplies last, so you might want to visit sooner rather than later. In fact, the opening has been so popular that staff are handing out tickets with entrance times to manage the crowd. The store opens at 10am, but according to Justin Scarpone, Executive Vice President and head of Sega's Global Transmedia Group, visitors came long before that. 'We had people lining up as early as seven. A woman flew in from Finland just for the store!' He expects the crowds will die down over time, but if you want to get your hands on limited items, you might want to go fast. Speaking of going fast, from now until July 21 you can meet Sonic in person. The mascot will be making a few sporadic appearances each day over the long weekend, so if you fancy a selfie with the world's most famous blue hedgehog, now's your chance. He's waaaaiiiitiiiing! 4 Tokyo bars named in the World's 50 Best Bars 2025 list The timetable for Summer Sonic 2025 is out now The Fuji Rock timetable for 2025 is here The Mt Fuji climbing season has officially begun
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Sega eyes return to 1990s gaming glory
Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday By Katie Forster The big-screen success of 1990s video game speedster "Sonic the Hedgehog" has brought new fans to Japan's Sega, which says it is poised for a comeback after two tough decades. This year all eyes have been on Nintendo, whose Switch 2 recently became the fastest-selling console in history. But unlike its former arch-rival, Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001, instead focusing on making games for other platforms. Now, as record tourism to Japan helps boost global appetite for the country's pop culture, the company sees a chance to reinvent itself -- including through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit "Sonic" series. Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday, having launched a similar shop in Shanghai in May. "Opportunities are expanding," chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi told AFP. "We've been struggling... for a while, but now we are coming back." The company aims "to expand our business globally rather than focusing on the Japanese market", he said. Sega was a top industry player in the 1980s and 1990s, its name synonymous with noisy arcades, home consoles and game franchises, such as beat-em-up "Streets of Rage" and ninja series "Shinobi". But it struggled to keep up with intense competition, falling on hard times financially as multiplayer online titles from US publishers, such as "World of Warcraft", took off in the 2000s. 'Persona' movie? After Sega quit the hardware business, its game offerings "got a little stale", said David Cole of the US-based games market research firm DFC Intelligence. But "the kids who grew up in the 1990s are now in their 30s, 40s, even older, and really like those franchises" -- and are introducing them to their own children -- he told AFP. "It's untapped value" that Sega -- just like its Japanese peers including Nintendo -- is trying to capitalise on through new movies, stores and theme park rides, Cole added. Last year, the film "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" starring Jim Carrey as the villain zipped to the top of the North American box office in one of the best December openings in years. It followed the first live-action "Sonic" movie in 2020, as Sega cashes in on a video-game movie craze that saw "The Super Mario Bros. Movie", based on the Nintendo characters, become the second-highest grossing film of 2023. "Shinobi" is also being turned into a film, while Sega's "Yakuza" game series has been adapted for television. When asked if cult franchise "Persona" could be next, Sega's Utsumi said fans should "stay tuned". "We are talking to a lot of interesting potential partners. So we are under some discussions, but I can't say too much about it," he said. Super Game Sega bought Finland's Rovio, creator of "Angry Birds", in 2023, seeking to expand into the mobile gaming market. "Gamers' behavior has been changing" since Sega's original heyday, going beyond TV-connected consoles, Utsumi said. But Cole said that in the long run Sega should concentrate on "high-end" gaming: larger-scale, more involved titles that encourage brand loyalty. Sega is working on what it calls a "Super Game" with big-budget international ambition and a scope that is "not only just a game -- communication, social, maybe potentially AI", Utsumi said. "The competition in the game market is very fierce," he cautioned. "It's important to really have a fan base close to us. But at the same time, when we develop a great game, it takes time." Sega's parent company Sega Sammy also makes arcade and gambling machines, including those used in Japanese "pachinko" parlors, whose numbers are in decline. That makes Sega's entertainment business "really the growth opportunity for the company", Cole said. Sega Sammy said in May its "Sonic" intellectual property "has contributed to an increase in both game and character licensing revenue". Young tourists in Tokyo shopping near Sega's new store ahead of the opening seemed to confirm this. "I've always liked Sega. I kind of grew up around their games," said 19-year-old American Danny Villasenor. "They're pretty retro. But I think they've evolved with time pretty well." William Harrington, 24, who lives in Los Angeles, said his father "put me on to a lot of the older games back in the day,"and so to him, Sega "feels like childhood". © 2025 AFP
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Lead actors announced for 'Legend of Zelda' movie
"The Legend of Zelda" is the latest video game to make the leap to the movie screen Two British actors will play the lead roles in the hotly anticipated live-action film adaptation of the "Legend of Zelda" video game franchise, Japan's Nintendo announced. The film's release is set for May 2027, joining a stream of game adaptations from "Super Mario" to "Sonic the Hedgehog" that have stormed the box office in recent years. Bo Bragason will play Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play Link -- an elf warrior who swordfights his way through a monster-filled fantasy world -- Nintendo said on social media platform X. "I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen," said the post attributed to game designer and Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto, the co-producer of "Super Mario", created the "Zelda" universe in 1986. Since then, the hugely popular series has sold more than 140 million games worldwide. Its latest installment, 2024's "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom", saw the titular character shed her role as a damsel in distress to be the heroine for the first time. Bragason has previously starred in the British TV series "Three Girls" and "Renegade Nell", while Ainsworth was the voice of Pinocchio in a 2022 movie remake. Before the announcement, online speculation had been rife that US trans actress Hunter Schafer, known for HBO hit show "Euphoria", might be picked for the part of Zelda. The movie, directed by Wes Ball of the "Maze Runner" trilogy, is a big-screen first for Zelda, although the game was adapted for a 13-episode animated series in 1989. Movie adaptations of hit video games have become big business, with Nintendo's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" the second-highest grossing film of 2023. Among other titles being developed into films are Japan's "Elden Ring" and US life-simulation game series "The Sims". © 2025 AFP
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Japan's Sega eyes return to 1990s gaming glory
Published Jul 17, 2025 • Last updated 33 minutes ago • 3 minute read Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday. Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Tokyo (AFP) — The big-screen success of 1990s video game speedster 'Sonic the Hedgehog' has brought new fans to Japan's Sega, which says it is poised for a comeback after two tough decades. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account This year all eyes have been on Nintendo, whose Switch 2 recently became the fastest-selling console in history. But unlike its former arch-rival, Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001, instead focusing on making games for other platforms. Now, as record tourism to Japan helps boost global appetite for the country's pop culture, the company sees a chance to reinvent itself — including through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit 'Sonic' series. Sega opens its first flagship merchandise store in Japan on Friday, having launched a similar shop in Shanghai in May. Sega has not sold gaming hardware since its Dreamcast console was discontinued in 2001. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP 'Opportunities are expanding,' chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi told AFP. 'We've been struggling… for a while, but now we are coming back.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The company aims 'to expand our business globally rather than focusing on the Japanese market', he said. Sega was a top industry player in the 1980s and 1990s, its name synonymous with noisy arcades, home consoles and game franchises, such as beat-em-up 'Streets of Rage' and ninja series 'Shinobi'. But it struggled to keep up with intense competition, falling on hard times financially as multiplayer online titles from US publishers, such as 'World of Warcraft', took off in the 2000s. 'Persona' movie? After Sega quit the hardware business, its game offerings 'got a little stale', said David Cole of the US-based games market research firm DFC Intelligence. But 'the kids who grew up in the 1990s are now in their 30s, 40s, even older, and really like those franchises' — and are introducing them to their own children — he told AFP. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Opportunities are expanding,' Sega's chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi says. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP 'It's untapped value' that Sega — just like its Japanese peers including Nintendo — is trying to capitalize on through new movies, stores and theme park rides, Cole added. Last year, the film 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' starring Jim Carrey as the villain zipped to the top of the North American box office in one of the best December openings in years. It followed the first live-action 'Sonic' movie in 2020, as Sega cashes in on a video-game movie craze that saw 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie', based on the Nintendo characters, become the second-highest grossing film of 2023. 'Shinobi' is also being turned into a film, while Sega's 'Yakuza' game series has been adapted for television. When asked if cult franchise 'Persona' could be next, Sega's Utsumi said fans should 'stay tuned'. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are talking to a lot of interesting potential partners. So we are under some discussions, but I can't say too much about it,' he said. Super Game Sega bought Finland's Rovio, creator of 'Angry Birds', in 2023, seeking to expand into the mobile gaming market. 'Gamers' behaviour has been changing' since Sega's original heyday, going beyond TV-connected consoles, Utsumi said. But Cole said that in the long run Sega should concentrate on 'high-end' gaming: larger-scale, more involved titles that encourage brand loyalty. Sega is seeking to reinvent itself through nostalgic game remakes and movie adaptations like the hit 'Sonic' series. (Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP Sega is working on what it calls a 'Super Game' with big-budget international ambition and a scope that is 'not only just a game — communication, social, maybe potentially AI', Utsumi said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The competition in the game market is very fierce,' he cautioned. 'It's important to really have a fan base close to us. But at the same time, when we develop a great game, it takes time.' Sega's parent company Sega Sammy also makes arcade and gambling machines, including those used in Japanese 'pachinko' parlours, whose numbers are in decline. That makes Sega's entertainment business 'really the growth opportunity for the company', Cole said. Sega Sammy said in May its 'Sonic' intellectual property 'has contributed to an increase in both game and character licensing revenue'. Young tourists in Tokyo shopping near Sega's new store ahead of the opening seemed to confirm this. 'I've always liked Sega. I kind of grew up around their games,' said 19-year-old American Danny Villasenor. 'They're pretty retro. But I think they've evolved with time pretty well.' William Harrington, 24, who lives in Los Angeles, said his father 'put me on to a lot of the older games back in the day', and so to him, Sega 'feels like childhood'. Celebrity Columnists MMA Canada World
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
British stars cast in live-action Legend of Zelda movie
Two British actors will play the lead roles in the hotly anticipated live-action film adaptation of the "Legend of Zelda" video game franchise, Japan's Nintendo announced. The film's release is set for May 2027, joining a stream of game adaptations from "Super Mario" to "Sonic the Hedgehog" that have stormed the box office in recent years. Bo Bragason will play Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play Link -- an elf warrior who swordfights his way through a monster-filled fantasy world -- Nintendo said on social media platform X on Wednesday.
