Sega Embraces Innovation with Project Century and Virtua Fighter

Sega's Risk-Taking Approach Fuels RGG Studio's Ambitious Projects

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (RGG Studio) is tackling multiple large-scale projects simultaneously, a feat attributed to Sega's willingness to embrace risk and innovation. Discover the exciting new titles on the horizon from the creators of Like a Dragon!

Sega Embraces Risk for New IPs and Ideas

RGG Studio currently has several major projects underway, including a brand-new IP. Despite already having the next Like a Dragon installment and a Virtua Fighter remake slated for 2025, they've added two more titles to their development pipeline. Studio head and director Masayoshi Yokoyama credits Sega's open embrace of risk for these opportunities.

In early December, RGG unveiled trailers for two distinct projects within a single week. Project Century, a new IP set in 1915 Japan, debuted at The Game Awards 2025, followed by a trailer for a new Virtua Fighter project (separate from the upcoming Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. remaster) on Sega's official channel. The scale of both projects reflects the studio's ambition, and Sega's confidence in RGG Studio's ability to deliver high-quality results. This reflects a blend of strong trust and a commitment to exploring uncharted territory.

"Sega's willingness to accept the possibility of failure, rather than solely focusing on safe bets, is a key strength," Yokoyama told Famitsu (as translated by Automaton Media). He suggests this risk-taking is ingrained in Sega's DNA, citing the creation of Shenmue as an example. Initially working with the Virtua Fighter IP, Sega sought something more, leading to the question: "What if we made 'VF' into an RPG?" This innovative thinking birthed the action-adventure Shenmue series.

RGG Studio assures fans that the concurrent development of these two projects won't compromise quality, particularly for the Virtua Fighter franchise. Original creator Yu Suzuki has expressed his support for the new project, and with Virtua Fighter being a cornerstone Sega IP, Yokoyama, Virtua Fighter Project producer Riichiro Yamada, and their team are committed to delivering a high-quality experience, avoiding anything "half-baked."

Yamada added, "With the new 'VF,' we aim to create something innovative and exciting for a broad audience! Whether you're a fan or not, we hope you'll anticipate further updates." Yokoyama echoed this sentiment, expressing his hope that gamers will eagerly await both titles.