Sega Racing Studio Closure Confirmed

Officials from Sega have confirmed recent reports that the UK-based Sega Rally Revo developer Sega Racing Studio has ceased operations, as part of a wider review of Sega’s western development studios and primarily due to concerns over profitably. The studio was formed in 2005 and employed many veterans of existing successful UK based racing game developers, including Codemasters, Criterion Games, Rockstar and Rare. Its only release was 2007’s Sega Rally (aka Sega Rally Revo) which, although praised for successfully revamping the series, was not a significant financial hit. Sega’s full statement on the closure is as follows: “Regrettably Sega today announced that it is to commence consultation with a view to the unfortunate closure of the SEGA Racing Studio in Birmingham, UK. The decision is part of a review of Sega’s western development studios to ensure that each studio is a profitable entity in its own right, and unfortunately the Sega Racing Studio’s five year plan would not result in a successful return for the Sega business moving forward. Sega would like to stress that there will be no changes within their other internal development studios.” Sega of Europe has refused to comment on what new projects the studio was working on and whether they would be continued by other teams.