Sega has issued a press release on its Japanese Web site detailing a new initiative within the company to support the creation of new game development studios. The first of these new studios is PROPE (pronounced PROH-peh), founded by Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog.
According to the press release, this new program will begin in June of 2006, partially funding the creation of new studios for the purpose of creating new intellectual properties and expanding development creativity, leaving game development for existing franchises to Sega's internal studios. PROPE will be the first studio created under this program, with others to slowly follow.
This type of development structure is not unknown to Sega, who during the Saturn and Dreamcast years seperated its R&D divisions into autonomous development studios such as Sonic Team, Overworks, Smilebit and Amusement Vision. These studios went on to create numerous new franchises such as Jet Set Radio, Skies of Arcadia and Super Monkey Ball. During the merger with Sammy, Sega consolidated its studios, presumably to ease the merger process, and this new initiative could be interpretted as a step towards a return to Sega's former business structure.
No game announcements were made following this announcement, but Famitsu printed rumors a few weeks ago that Yuji Naka would create a new development studio and that he is developing a sequel to the popular Saturn game NiGHTS Into Dreams.
Revolution Report will bring you more on Sega's new direction as it is made available.
