Sega has officially opened up its first physical store. Similarly to the Nintendo stores around the world, the Sega store will feature exclusive merchandise, interactive displays, and places to take fun photos. However, unlike Nintendo, there is only one location right now: inside the shopping mall Bailian ZX, in the center of Shanghai, China.
While the company has hinted at a possible chain expansion, only one additional store is scheduled to open shortly. The second official Sega store will be opening in Tokyo, located inside the Shibuya Parco department complex, in the summer.
There are only five Nintendo stores, with three in Japan just by itself, so hitting the States or Europe will possibly be years away.
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“I want to deliver Sega’s charm to many people in Shanghai, where game culture is rooted,” said Sega’s president Shuji Utsumi (via Kyodo). Sonic the Hedgehog himself was on hand to help with the official opening.
Among the sea of Sonic blue and a hint of Persona, fans might have noticed some Sakura Wars representation. Sakura Wars was released in Japan in 1996 for the Sega Saturn and eventually localized for the Dreamcast four years later. The series has been dormant for the most part, with Sakura Wars, or New Sakura Wars, depending on your location, released in 2019, but no follow-up has been announced.
