On this SEGA Talk, Barry takes a visit to Tokyo Joypolis and shares his full day of fun playing games, eating food and getting yelled at by staff! Is SEGA’s last standing theme park a Joy? Watch and find out on SEGA Talk!
[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Download]
Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!
SEGA has uploaded the first behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance featuring the creative minds at Lizardcube, makers of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and Streets of Rage 4, as they discuss their unique approach to bringing the story and art to life in this new entry of the series.
SHINOBI: Art of Vegeance will be available on PlayStation 4 | 5, Xbox Series X|S/One, Nintendo Switch & Steam on August 29. Pre-order your copy here!
Let us know your thoughts and excitement on Shinobi: Art of Vengeance so far in our comment section below!
Today, SEGA and ATLUS announced that Persona5: The Phantom X will be launching on PC and mobile on June 26, 2025. In this unique turn-based RPG set in the world of Persona 5, players will lead a double life as a student and a Phantom Thief with a brand-new protagonist and band of Phantom Thieves.
Check out more information and screenshots of the game in the next section of the article.
Geek Out has announced that they will be collaborating with SEGA Corporation to develop a Like a Dragon themed experience on the Roblox platform. This exciting project brings the world of Like a Dragon into Roblox as an licensed experience.
With the series being known for its mature storytelling and exploration of complex themes such as love, humanity, and betrayal, Geek Out’s goal is to deliver the unique charm of Like a Dragon freshly and engagingly, leveraging the power of Roblox’s interactive world.
Geek Out will share more information regarding the project on their social media with updates. This won’t be the first SEGA IP to be included into Roblox as Sonic Speed Simulator is game that SEGA launched on the platform.
Let us know your thoughts on the announcement in our comment section!
SEGA just dropped a wave of exciting news during today’s Virtua Fighter Direct, and fans of the legendary 3D fighting series have plenty to be hyped about with new character reveals for the New Virtua Fighter Project to multiplatform crossplay support and new merch, here’s everything that was announced.
Virtua Fighter’s iconic Canadian pro-wrestler, Wolf Hawkfield, is officially returning to the ring in the upcoming New Virtua Fighter Project. This marks his first appearance since Virtua Fighter 5, and he’s been given a dramatic visual overhaul, courtesy of the incredibly talented Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Art Team. SEGA also shared behind-the-scenes insights into the game’s new art direction, offering fans a glimpse at the design philosophy driving the next evolution of Virtua Fighter.
Legacy VF producer Seiji Aoki took the stage to announce that Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. What makes the announcement even more exciting is that all platforms will feature full crossplay support and will be implemented across all platforms, ensuring players can challenge each other no matter where they play.
SEGA also unveiled a fresh wave of Virtua Fighter merchandise, including a sick T-shirt lineup featuring series protagonist Akira Yuki and new soundtracks available on Spotify. Additionally, the Virtua Fighter Open Championship was officially announced, with NVIDIA sponsoring the event. Several qualifying tournament venues were revealed, kicking off what promises to be an exciting competitive season for Virtua Fighter players worldwide!
What did you think of today’s Virtua Fighter Direct? Which announcement got you the most hyped? Let us know in the comments below!
SEGA is set to host the second Virtua Fighter Direct live stream this Sunday, May 11, at 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PST, promising fresh updates on the legendary 3D fighting series.
The first VF Direct, held back in December following The Game Awards, focused on the reveal of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (Ultimate Showdown Ver. 2.0) for consoles and PC. That event gave longtime fans a glimpse at the franchise’s next evolution while teasing what’s to come for Virtua Fighter’s future.
Earlier this year, SEGA showcased a brief concept video of the next Virtua Fighter title during Nvidia’s CES 2025 presentation, illustrating the visual leap from the original 1999-era graphics to the capabilities of today’s hardware—further proof that development is well underway.
Hints of a new Virtua Fighter game were first dropped last year when SEGA’s head of transmedia, Justin Scarpone, mentioned it during an interview as part of the company’s broader push to revive its classic franchises.
What would you all like to see in the second Virtua Fighter Direct this weekend? New gameplay, characters, or merchandise? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: VGC
On this SEGA News Bits Live, Barry talks about a new Ecco game, the Sonic x DC toys coming from Jakks Pacific and a newly translated Sonic interview from 1991!
Want to win a Retro-Bit SEGA Saturn controller? Enter the contest here!
If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!
If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.
SEGA & RGG Studio had revealed the return of “Bubble” by Shōnan no Kaze for Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut which was originally used for the Japanese release of the original game and cut from the western release. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut will also feature a brand-new English dub and showcases voice performances by Yong Yea as Kazuma Kiryu and Matthew Mercer as Goro Majima as well as Akira Nishikiyama (Kaiji Tang) and Osamu Kashiwagi (David Hayter).
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is launching with Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th with pre-orders available now. The definitive edition of the critically acclaimed origin story in the series will include never-before-seen cutscenes, new online multiplayer mode, English voiceover, plus French, Italian, German, and Spanish text. Check out a preview of the English VO cast below!
Via an interview with Xbox Wire, Ecco the Dolphin creator Ed Annunziata has revealed that remasters of the first two Ecco the Dolphin games as well as a third game are in the works. When asked about the future of the series, Annunziata said “Me and the entire original team are going to Remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities.” Annunziata then asked fans to stay tuned to eccothedolphin.com which has a countdown clock in hours which translates to 355 days at the time of this article.
Are you excited to see the return of the first two Ecco games and a third game?
[Source: Xbox]
Today, SEGA and JAKKS Pacific announced an exciting new toy line that celebrates the popular DC x Sonic the Hedgehog crossover comic series. This collaboration brings together two iconic worlds – Sonic the Hedgehog and DC’s Justice League.
Fans can look forward to this collection featuring fan-favorite characters including Sonic, Shadow and Tails, alongside members of DC’s Justice League, including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, when the toy line debuts in stores and online in Fall 2025.
Check out further details about the toy line collaboration through the press release here.
Thanks to The GHZ, we have a newly translated interview with Naoto Ōshima (going incognito under the name Big Island) and Sega CS1 general manager Makoto Oshitani from the December 1991 issue of MD Fan. The brief interview provides an early look at a post Sonic 1 SEGA and their plans for the future of the series. Notably, SEGA was aware Japanese and Americans had different tastes and to remedy that the plan was to develop two sequels. Also mentioned are negative reactions to the first game’s ending, something I have never been aware of. Apparently Sonic 1’s ending was a let down for gamers and the sequels would give players a more fulfilling experience (The GHZ notes Super Sonic in Sonic 2 and the cinematics in Sonic CD).
You can read The GHZ’s thread here, and after the break read the fully translated interview.
The world’s first official SEGA store, SEGA Store Shanghai, has opened today. The store features a variety of in-store experiences, including original merchandise designed with local flair, interactive displays, and memorable photo opportunities.
SEGA established its Transmedia Business Unit in April 2024, expanding the company’s legendary IP portfolio spanning 65 years into other forms of media beyond gaming to provide fresh and exciting new content to fans across the globe.
Beginning with the launch of SEGA’s first official store in Shanghai, the company is considering further expansion in other areas such as Shibuya, Japan as it brings their transmedia strategy into real-world experiences.
SEGA has teamed up with Sonic Content Creator, Sam Procrastinates, to share the history of Sonic Racing video games in preparation of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds including new gameplay footage from the upcoming game revealing new courses and gear!
What is your favorite Sonic Racing game and what do you think of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds so far? Let us know in the comments! Sonic Racing CrossWorlds will be available on all major platforms soon. Wishlist the game today!
Wishlist Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Today!
Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo Switch | PC
Exciting news for fans of the Sakura Wars series and SEGA Saturn fan translation projects arrived today! After 17 years since its original release in Japan, Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die has been fully translated into English. The patch is now available to download—thanks to the dedicated team behind the first game’s English fan translation. Alongside the English patch, a Portuguese translation has also been released. Developed by a team led by Gopicolo in coordination with the English team, this version can also be downloaded here.
Originally released in 1998 for the SEGA Saturn, Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die continues the story of the Imperial Combat Revue’s Flower Division as they defend Tokyo against new demonic threats in the wake of the first game’s events. The sequel expands on the original’s innovative blend of tactical RPG combat and dating sim-style visual novel storytelling, introducing new characters, deeper strategic gameplay, and further developing the bonds between the cast in the Taisho-era steampunk setting.
In related news, auditions have opened for an original English dub of the Sakura Wars OVA 1 and 2, led by burntends. Voice actors interested in contributing to the project can audition now. Now that both mainline Sakura Wars games along with Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 (known as Sakura Wars Columns 2) and Sakura Wars GB have been fully translated into English, it’s only a matter of time before we see progress on the third entry—Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?, which is still actively in development.
Hit the jump to see the full list of contributors behind the Sakura Wars 2 fan translation patch and check out some screenshots!
SEGA has released a brand-new trailer for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance showcasing the stages that players will have to overcome as the titular ninja, Joe Musashi. The two stages revealed are claimed to be titled “Oboro Village” where players can master jumping, rolling, and other basic commands as you glide across the dojo and bamboo groves and “The Chase” where you ride on Yamato’s back as you dodge flames, kunai, and other hazards as you race through this bonus stage.
The Asia website for the game also got an update giving us details on the prologue and biographies of brand-new characters as well as characters from early SHINOBI titles. SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance will be available for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S/One, Nintendo Switch and Steam on August 29.
Pre-order SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance to receive a 10% discount, the Original Arcade Outfit, and the Fortune Hunter Amulet. Opt for the SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance Digital Deluxe Edition to play 3 days early and receive the Ghost Outfit, Medic Lite Amulet, In-Game Currency, Digital Artbook & Soundtrack, and the SEGA Villains Stage, featuring bosses based on iconic SEGA villains. Check out the official synopsis of SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance and character biographies after this jump!