Former Hollywood Executive Aims to Transform Sega into a Global Entertainment Powerhouse

Sega has announced plans to accelerate the development of its intellectual properties across various media platforms, with a focus on building a robust transmedia strategy. The company has appointed former Disney executive Justin Scarpone as head of global transmedia to lead this effort. Scarpone aims to help Sega become a major entertainment company, leveraging its gaming business as a foundation for expansion into other areas such as film, television, and consumer products. He believes that the gaming industry is ripe for a studio system similar to Hollywood, where games can serve as a launching point for new intellectual properties that can be developed into sequels, merchandise, and other forms of entertainment. Scarpone's vision for Sega involves creating a content flywheel, where the company can develop and produce content across multiple platforms, with a focus on storytelling and franchise development. He notes that Sega has made significant strides in this area, with the success of its Sonic films and other transmedia initiatives. The company is also investing in its transmedia unit, with a focus on building out its capabilities in Asia, where there is a high affinity for Sega's intellectual properties. Scarpone believes that the key to success in transmedia is organization and process, and that different intellectual properties will require different approaches. He highlights the importance of having a strong team in place to handle the development and production of content across multiple platforms. Looking ahead, Scarpone is optimistic about the future of the gaming industry and Sega's role in it, citing the growing demand for game-based intellectual properties in film and television. He believes that Sega is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, with a strong portfolio of intellectual properties and a commitment to innovation and creativity.