SEGA is reportedly planning to adapt its most popular franchises, Yakuza and its spin-off/subseries, Like a Dragon, and Persona, into movies and possibly other spin-offs. This ambitious initiative, revealed in a CNBC interview with SEGA’s COO Shuji Utsumi, is part of the company’s intention to expand the reach of these beloved franchises beyond games.
The inspiration behind SEGA’s latest venture stems from the recent successes of video game adaptations in cinema and streaming platforms.
With the blockbuster performances of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, HBO’s The Last of Us, and SEGA’s own pair of Sonic the Hedgehog movies, the company is looking to capitalize on this lucrative trend. These adaptations haven’t only been huge critical hits, but they’ve achieved unprecedented levels of commercial success as well. If nothing else, these successes help demonstrate the potential of video game IPs in the film industry.
Utsumi, in the same interview, emphasized the importance of diversifying SEGA’s portfolio into different entertainment mediums. He pointed out that SEGA is exploring opportunities to revive other classical IPs as well, hinting at possible reboot projects for iconic games like Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi.
The focus, however, remains on Yakuza, Like a Dragon and Persona. All three franchises have a rich narrative and unique gameplay elements that could translate well into cinematic experiences. The Yakuza series, known for its deep as well as immersive storytelling and complex characters, presents a ripe narrative for a live-action adaptation. Meanwhile, there’s an alternate reality where Persona, with its blend of psychological themes and supernatural elements, have already been adapted, entertaining audiences with its compelling storylines, captivating movie audiences all over the globe. Or, at least, that’s what fans of the said properties will tell you.
The fact remains that SEGA’s lack of concrete release dates and project details suggests it’s not sure about these types of venture. Thus, while excited, fans will have to wait a while to see their favorite characters and stories come to life on the big screen.
As much as SEGA would love to strike gold again with Persona, Like a Dragon, and/or Yakuza, it has to tread carefully. Don’t forget that video games don’t always translate well into the big screen, no matter what you do. But, you can’t exactly tell SEGA that it can’t do something that it has already done.
If it insists, we’re hoping that it at least concerns going the Yakuza route first. An animated Yakuza series can translate the games’ action scenes into animation, unlike Persona, which had always prided itself on its narrative direction, even if, at times, it feels convoluted to follow unless you’re a big fan. The potential draw of using the game’s original VAs is even more of a plus and could help guarantee that existing fans will at least support Yakuza. Plus, there’s precedent for successful video game adaptations on Netflix, with shows like Castlevania and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners leading the way.
Regardless of which one gets a live-action (or animated) adaptation first, SEGA needs to put serious weight behind all of its plans. Either project can’t just be a cash grab. If SEGA wants to do this, it needs to go all in. It needs to put all the lessons it learned with Sonic and put in as much effort into the live-action adaptations. Otherwise, they’re doomed to fail.
SEGA is currently working on a pair of Persona games that’s coming out in 2024. Finally, Yakuza: Like A Dragon 8 will be getting a multiplatform simultaneous release on January 26, 2024.
