Worrying news from the Sega camp today reveals that the company will be axing in excess of 560 jobs after heavy losses were reported in the firm’s latest financial report.
Sega will be cutting its 3000 strong workforce by 20 percent over the coming months and will also be closing 110 of their amusement arcades after a loss of USD $235,424,993 is expected for the 9 months leading up until March 2009. The job cuts will largely affect its research and developments sectors, which could jeopardize the future of some of its games currently in development.
For the PlayStation 3, upcoming games included Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection, OutRun Online Arcade, Stormrise, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and Virtual Tennis 2009. With only a few weeks until the release of Phantasy Star Portable for the PSP, the RPG shouldn’t be affected
The news will undoubtedly and significantly affect Sega’s plans going forward this year. Let’s hope they can claw their way back.