After years of rumors, SEGA is finally ready to launch a lineup of new games from its classic catalog. While we didn’t see dates, short bits of footage were shown off for multiple games with new takes on Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Crazy Taxi.
According to the surprise trailer that aired during The Game Awards, SEGA is working on new installments for five classic series: Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage. For many of these franchises, it will be the first time SEGA has dusted them off in well over a decade.
The last new Jet Set Radio game was released in 2002, Golden Axe in 2008, Shinobi in 2011, Crazy Taxi in 2017, and Streets of Rage in 2020. This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of SEGA’s untouched list of IP that has been dormant for even longer—anyone looking for a new Ecco The Dolphin?
SEGA claims this is an approach to bring “New Era, New Energy!” into its upcoming game lineups. Jet Set looks like a full-on modernized take on the franchise while others like Shinobi appear to be stylized approaches to reignite classic formulas.
No additional details about these projects were shared, but what was shown did look rather polished. Five games have footage out in the wild now and SEGA has teased more to come in the future. With the recent disappointment, and cancelation, of its massive HYENAS project, SEGA needs a few wins—and this lineup looks like it could win over new and old fans alike.
Published: Dec 7, 2023 09:03 pm