Sega is canceling Hyenas and some unannounced titles from their European studios

[the-pi-guy]

Notice regarding Implementation of Structural Reforms in the Consumer Area (Entertainment Contents Business)｜News Release｜SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS

1) Cancelation of titles under development

In response to the lower profitability of the European region, we have reviewed the title portfolio of each development base in Europe and the resulting action will be to cancel "HYENAS" and some unannounced titles under development. Accordingly, we will implement a write-down of work-in-progress for titles under development.

2) Reduction of fixed expenses

We will implement reduction of various fixed expenses at several group companies in relevant region, centered on the Creative Assembly Ltd. We expect to incur one-time expenses related to reduction of fixed expenses.

 

We will continue to consider measures to improve profitability in European bases apart from above. We will announce the specific details and impact from them as soon as we make decision.

[Legend]

What was hyenas?

[the-pi-guy]

What was hyenas?

Apparently a ridiculously expensive game for Sega.

[Legend]

That's what creative assembly was working on? Oh geez.

Now I'm really glad the game was cancelled. Much better than the whole studio being shutdown after that game would have probably flopped.

[the-pi-guy]

Sega's biggest budget game ever

One anonymous developer wrote: "So what went wrong? Total lack of direction, many of the leadership asleep at the wheel but they never seem to lose their jobs. An engine change, part way through the process. Attempting to break into a saturated market, and not committing to do anything adventurous with the game."

Although it's not public knowledge how much Sega invested in Hyenas, former developers told VGC they believe it was the company's biggest budget ever for a game, beating 1999's Shenmue which was once claimed to have cost around $70 million.

"I forgot to mention that Hyenas was Sega's biggest budget game ever," an anonymous developer also told Volound. "Towards the end, there were people from Sega Japan more or less permanently at the UK office, this has NEVER happened the whole time l've worked at CA, they occasionally came to visit and check how a game was looking but as I said previously, generally hands-off."

[tobyfleming]

That is SEGA's reasonable choice in their current situation. Hopefully there will be more good games in the future