Sega

While Just Cause 2 developer Avalanche Studios' top-down vehicle shooter was released on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network two weeks ago, publisher Sega has remained tight-lipped about the PC version's release date. Until now: Renegade Ops will be available from Steam on October 14. More >

Sega has confirmed that Dreamcast classic Space Channel 5 Part 2 will be released on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on October 4 and 5 respectively. More >

The website of Australia's ratings board reveals that Sega has sought classification for Daytona USA, suggesting the much-loved racing game, first released in 1993, is bound for modern consoles. The classification listing suggests the game is in development for multiple platforms. We've sought comment from Sega.

This latest look at Platinum Games' online brawler comes from the Tokyo Game Show. While we're still concerned that latency may mean it turns out to be a button-masher rather than the multiplayer Bayonetta of our dreams, it's shaping up nicely, and the wide range of styles on show from the game's broad cast suggest there's significant depth beneath that veneer of basic brutality.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Treasure's Hiroto Matsuura revealed that the upcoming HD re-release of Saturn brawler Guardian Heroes began life as a sequel. "The project started as Guardian Heroes 2, but the publisher [Sega] said in order to create a sequel, they wanted us to revitalise the IP. So instead of starting on the sequel we made a remake." Should said remake - which will be released on Xbox Live Arcade on October 12 - prove successful, a sequel could yet see the light of day. "The original core game mechanic is a 2D, layer-based game, and that's what we like about it," Matsuura said. "We may create characters and backgrounds in 3D, but the core mechanics will be the same."

Sega has just announced that the HD remaster of Treasure's classic Sega Saturn brawler will be released on Xbox Live Arcade on October 12. Supporting online play for up to 12 players, it will cost 800 Microsoft Points.

In a press conference today following the announcements of Yakuza 5 for PS3, Yakuza Black Panther 2 for PSP and a dedicated internal Yakuza Studio, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi said that he was planning some major changes in development of Yakuza 5. With the engine used in Yakuzas 3 and 4, and the spinoff Kenzan, showing its age, Nagoshi said that Yakuza 5 would see innovations in both technology and playstyle. As such, development may take some time, and Nagoshi said he hoped fans of the series wouldn't mind the wait. The game may be shown in some form at the Tokyo Game Show later this month, but Nagoshi admitted that he felt the announcement had been made a little early.

Toshihiro Nagoshi's announcement of Yakuza 5 comes with news that Sega has set up a dedicated Yakuza Studio, the first product of which will be Binary Domain, the thirdperson shooter that is due next February. Sega has only just approved Yakuza 5, Nagoshi told Famitsu, and the team has found a way to continue the series despite the devastation wrought on Kamurocho by the zombie infestation depicted in Yakuza Of The End. Also announced was Yakuza Black Panther 2 for PSP, which will feature four extra characters in addition to Tatsuya, the original's protagonist, as well as a return to the fictional Osaka district of Sotenbori, which featured in Yakuza 2.

The publisher announced Rhythm Thief earlier this month in its Japanese guise, which translates as Rhythm Phantom Thief R: Inheritance of the Emperor Napoleon, but has confirmed a western localisation - and, thankfully, a shorter name - in a press release this afternoon. The game casts players as Raphael, the titular thief, on a quest to discover the truth behind his father's disappearance in Paris with a blend of puzzle-solving and rhythm action. While the visuals may draw inspiration from Level-5's Layton series, the sight of a three-man dance team on a Nintendo handheld brings to mind Inis' DS classic Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, which can only be a good thing. Rhythm Thief will be released for 3DS - with multiplayer and StreetPass support - early next year.

Sonic's 1993 outing on Sega's ill-fated Mega CD will be released on a laundry list of platforms - Live Arcade, PSN, PC, iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7 - before the end of the year. Sega's Haruki Satomi said: "Ask any Sonic fan to name their favourite games, and Sonic CD always ranks near the top of their lists. We've made sure the remastered edition has everything that Sonic fans want to see with all of the original colourful classic zones." It's got everything Sonic fans want to hear, too: the release contains the original Japanese soundtrack.

Toshihiro Nagoshi, producer of the PlayStation exclusive Yakuza series, has revealed to Eurogamer that Microsoft turned down the opportunity to have the first game in the series on Xbox. In fact, Sony originally did as well. "At the beginning of the project we spoke to all the platform holders including Sony and Microsoft," he told Eurogamer. "Every platform holder was negative about this prospect, but we kept on pushing because we believed in the potential, and as we kept going the one platform holder that showed interest and saw the prospects of this title was Sony. That's how we started working with them, and that's probably not going to change." Sega announced in June that it had shipped five million copies of games in the series since the first Yakuza was released for PS2 in 2005.

The Australian classification board has ruled not to grant Sega's The House Of The Dead: Overkill Extended Cut a rating, making it illegal to sell the PS3 game in the country. As spotted by VG247, the classification listing notes that the version submitted for review was “modified”, suggesting Sega may already have made content cuts in a bid to gain approval. Ahead of its release in 2007, the original Wii version of the game, The House Of The Dead: Overkill, was granted an MA15+ rating for “strong horror violence”. Extended Cut features 3D and Move support, as well as exclusive levels. The Australian classification board is notoriously strict when it comes to games. While an overhaul of the nation’s classification system is expected to pave the way for the introduction of an R18+ rating for games, none higher than 15+ currently exists for the medium, despite the fact that movies and magazines can receive adult classification.

The third formal revision to Virtua Fighter 5 was released in Japanese arcades last July, and Sega has this morning confirmed that it will be headed to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next summer as a downloadable title. As well as balance tweaks, new game modes, extra stages and customisable characters, Sega is promising two new characters: VF3's Taka-Arashi, and an all-new fighter, Jean Kujo.

Following THQ's announcement last night that it is to close two Australian studios, and a US team in Phoenix with the loss of 200 jobs, Sega Studios Australia director Marcus Fielding said he hoped to be able to help staff at THQ Studio Australia, which like Sega is based in Brisbane, find new employment. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of another great Australian developer, and are sorry to see THQ's studios close their doors after so many years of game development," he told MCV. "We will be speaking to Sega executives to explore our short-term hiring strategy to reflect the sudden influx of talent in Australia. We hope to be able to announce the potential for taking on more staff soon." Sega Studio Australia is currently advertising for an art director and senior engine programmer.

For the three months to June 30, Sega Sammy's net sales revenue dropped 28.5 per cent year on year to ¥65.33 billion (£514.9 million). Having posted a profit this time last year of ¥7.03 billion (£55.4 million), the last quarter saw the firm hit with a loss of ¥2.22 billion (£17 million). Its game division saw sales drop 22.3 per cent to ¥16.2 billion (£127.7 million).