Sega says Yakuza and Persona mobile games may be coming, plus a Sonic & Angry Birds crossover
Sega acquired Rovio for €706 million in August
Sega says Yakuza and Persona mobile games could be on the way.
As reported by Mobilegamer.biz, Sega‘s co-COO Shuji Utsumi appeared at the Roviocon event in Helsinki today to discuss Sega’s mobile future following its acquisition of Angry Birds studio Rovio.
Utsumi reportedly said that new Angry Birds animated projects are in production, and that new Rovio games were in development for PC and console.
He also made a reference to a Sonic and Angry Birds crossover, joking that the two IPs were currently “dating”.
Moving onto mobile games, Utusmi said that by merging with Rovio, Sega is able to expand its own range of mobile games, which could lead to mobile versions of some of its other IPs.
“Mobile is a massive platform for us,” Utsumi, said. “By combining together with Rovio, Sega is now able to pave the way for global mobile game audiences.
“Currently, Sega and Rovio have been working on new mobile game projects based on our own IP… but Sonic is not the only IP to benefit from the mobile platform expansion. It will be a potential strong tailwind for other key Sega IP such as Yakuza and Persona.”
When it originally announced in April that it planned to acquire Rovio, Sega said it wanted to bring the Angry Birds studio on board to bolster its own live service mobile game portfolio.
According to its statement at the time, Sega wanted to use “Rovio’s distinctive know-how in live service mobile game operation to bring Sega’s current and new titles to the global mobile gaming market, where there is large potential.”
During his appearance at Roviocon today, Utsumi also said Sega planned to get further involved with subscription game services like Netflix, Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass.
This is already evident with the release of Apple Arcade exclusives ChuChu Rocket! Universe, Sonic Racing and Sonic Dream Team, and the Apple Arcade and Netflix releases of Football Manager 2024 Touch.