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Fans gathered outside the striking building to ensure it received a rousing send-off.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

September 23, 2021

1 Min Read
Image by 'Black Squirrel' via Sega Retro

Sega has officially closed the doors on its iconic Ikebukuro Gigo arcade in Tokyo after 28 years of operations.

As reported by Kotaku, the company had previously announced the arcade would shut down on September 20, and when the day finally arrived fans gathered outside of the legendary game hub to bid it a fond farewell.

The Ikebukuro Gigo opened in 1993 and was eventually rebranded with the Sega moniker and a striking red exterior in 2013.  According to Famitsu, the closure was due to the end of a lease agreement and the need for building renovations, both of which were cited as "unavoidable circumstances."

The arcade manager tasked with overseeing the Ikebukuro Gigo reportedly gave a speech to gathering fans, telling them "if it were in my power, I’d want to stay open forever at this location and greet the happy faces of our wonderful customers. Unfortunately, at this time, the way it turned out was, the arcade has closed."

Sega chose to sell off the bulk of its arcade business last year after suffering significant losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining its various facilities had witnessed a remarkable decline in usage.

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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