Sega Reports 20% Surge in Annual Sales, Driven by Persona and Like a Dragon Success

Sega Sammy has unveiled its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, highlighting notable achievements across various sectors. Key financial indicators include: net sales of ¥468 billion ($3 billion), representing a 20% year-on-year increase; operating income of ¥56.8 billion ($365 million), up 22% year-on-year; and profit of ¥33.1 billion ($212 million), down 28% year-on-year. Sega attributes its sales growth to the acquisition of Rovio and favorable market performance in Japan and Asia. However, the company's profitability decline is partly attributed to European restructuring costs, including significant layoffs announced towards the end of the fiscal year. The entertainment contents division, encompassing the home gaming business, experienced a strong fourth quarter, resulting in a 12% increase in full-year sales to ¥318 billion ($2.04 billion). Notably, January's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and February's Persona 3 Reload both achieved 1 million copies sold within a week of launch, surpassing previous series records. These titles contributed to significant franchise growth, with Persona sales reaching 5.06 million copies (up 55% year-over-year) and Like a Dragon sales, including the Judgment series, totaling 5.36 million copies (up 89% year-over-year). As a result, the gap between these franchises and Sega's flagship Sonic franchise has narrowed, with Sonic sales declining 27% to 5.92 million copies. Looking ahead, Sega forecasts a 5% decline in sales and a 21% decrease in operating income for the current fiscal year, while expecting an 18% increase in profits. The entertainment contents division is projected to see a 5% year-over-year sales increase, offset by a 21% decline in the Pachislot business and the sale of the Seagaia resort to Fortress Investment Group.