Sega Europe restructures amidst switch to digital

Sega has confirmed it will shut down a number of its European offices as its business switches to new digital content and just select IP for retail.

The company will close offices in France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Benelux as it turns its attentions to digital product.

Koch Media will take over sales and distribution duties in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Spain of packaged goods.

Two new outfits formed by former Sega execs, Level03 Distribution and 5 Star Games, will assist with distribution across Benelux and Australia respectively.

The switch takes place from this weekend, July 1st 2012.

In these territories tomorrow’s release of London 2012: The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will be the last of Sega’s boxed games that it has direct sales, marketing and distribution for.

Nothing changes for other offices, including the UK HQ, which will manage the relationships with Koch, Level03 and 5 Star.

Sega had announced its intention to streamline the European and US offices last month.

Sega is entering a new and exciting phase that will position the company as a content led organisation maximising sales with strong and balanced IP such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Total War, Football Manager and the Aliens franchise”, commented Jurgen Post, COO of Sega Europe in the official statement about the shake-up.

The company will benefit from a clear focus and realigned strategy for our digital business and packaged goods and we are confident that this will lead to a successful future.”