SEGA Plans Major Expansion for Sonic Team Through New Hires and Mergers

SEGA has announced significant plans to expand and reinforce its renowned Sonic Team division, according to details shared in the company's recently published Q3 Fiscal Year Ending March 2025 Financial Results.

This update, disclosed during a shareholder Q&A session, highlights SEGA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its internal development capabilities and maintaining the Sonic franchise's global appeal. The Sonic Team, best known for producing the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog series, is set to receive an influx of new talent and resources.

SEGA has outlined a multifaceted strategy to achieve this goal, focusing on increasing the overall number of development staff and pursuing additional mergers and acquisitions to further bolster the team's capabilities. In a rewritten summary of SEGA management’s statement, the company emphasized its intention to expand key Japanese intellectual properties globally, with a particular focus on internal studios including Atlus, as well as the development teams behind the Sonic and Like a Dragon franchises.

SEGA noted that these studios currently face staff shortages, underscoring the necessity of new hires and strategic acquisitions as primary solutions to reinforce their creative output. "Atlus is an essential studio for our efforts to grow Japanese IPs overseas, and we recognize the importance of strengthening its operations.

Studios involved with the Sonic and Like a Dragon properties are also in need of additional staff, and we intend to address this by increasing recruitment and considering mergers and acquisitions," SEGA stated in the financial Q&A. The last major release from Sonic Team was "Sonic x Shadow Generations," a fast-paced platformer that launched to strong fan enthusiasm.

Available on multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch, the title continues the legacy of innovative gameplay that has defined the Sonic franchise and contributed to over three decades of enduring popularity.

Since its inception, Sonic Team has significantly contributed to SEGA's success, with Sonic titles achieving global sales milestones and critical acclaim across various hardware generations. SEGA’s renewed focus on recruiting top talent and exploring corporate acquisitions in the gaming sector signals a proactive approach to meeting increasing demand and maintaining its competitive edge.

By investing in its workforce and pursuing strategic growth, SEGA aims to ensure that franchises like Sonic and Like a Dragon remain at the forefront of the video game industry, both in Japan and worldwide. For stakeholders and fans alike, these developments underscore SEGA’s dedication to its flagship properties and its resolve to deliver high-quality gaming experiences on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and beyond.

Sonic Team SEGA Sonic Atlus Like a Dragon Sonic x Shadow Generations Nintendo Switch