SEGA vs Sony

Sega and Netflix expand transmedia strategy with Crazy Taxi film

Sega and Netflix have announced a new transmedia collaboration, starting with a feature film adaptation of Crazy Taxi, written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The slate also includes a new animated Sonic series for pre-school audiences and a live-action film based on RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven. The projects aim to leverage different parts of Sega's gaming catalog across various genres and formats. Producing the Crazy Taxi film will be Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara, who have worked on the Sonic franchise. The collaboration marks a strategic move to expand Sega's intellectual properties into film and television, with potential implications for the advertising industry through new sponsorship and product placement opportunities.

• Sega and Netflix announced a collaboration to adapt Crazy Taxi into a feature film.
• Dan Gregor and Doug Mand will write the Crazy Taxi film.
• Producers Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara are attached to the project.

Rovio to close Copenhagen studio after Sonic Blitz cancel

Sega-owned Rovio is shutting its Copenhagen studio following the cancellation of its runner–card-collection hybrid mobile game Sonic Blitz. Rovio says about 20 employees worked on the canceled project and that a redundancy process is underway; affected staff will be offered transition packages including outplacement and wellbeing support. Sega West COO and Rovio CEO Alex Pelletier‑Normand said retention did not meet expectations despite initial promise, and that the company is concentrating development efforts. AppMagic data shows Sonic Blitz picked up over 200,000 downloads, mainly in Brazil with some players in the Philippines.

• Sega-owned Rovio is discontinuing all operations at its Copenhagen studio after cancelling the mobile game Sonic Blitz.
• Rovio stated that around 20 employees had worked on the now-canceled Sonic Blitz project.
• Rovio will offer transition packages, including outplacement services and wellbeing support, to team members who cannot be reallocated.

Sonic Blitz cancelled as servers shut down

Sonic Blitz, a Sonic-based mobile card game developed by Rovio in partnership with Sega, has been cancelled and its servers shut down on 24 August 2026. The game had been soft-launched in the Philippines (June 2025) and Brazil but never reached global release. Rovio informed its Discord community on 21 August that the closure is part of "broader change" at the studio. AppMagic estimated the title reached over 200,000 downloads across the two soft-launch markets, with install peaks and subsequent fluctuations during 2025–2026. Discord and Twitter accounts for the game also went offline the same day.

• Sonic Blitz has been cancelled and servers were shut down on 24 August 2026.
• The game was soft-launched in the Philippines in June 2025 and later in Brazil but never launched globally.
• Rovio announced the game's closure to its Discord community on 21 August 2026, citing "broader change" at the studio.

Sony and D.LEAGUE Launch Initiative to Expand the Possibilities of Dance Through Technology

Japanese Professional Dance League to Introduce Synchronization Evaluation Support System, Powered by Sony's LYNXCOPE Markerless Motion Capture Technology in the 26-27 Season

Sean Parker Rebuilds Stability AI Around Music

Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster, is pivoting Stability AI towards the music industry. Two years after joining an $80 million rescue of the company, Parker and CEO Prem Akkaraju are focusing on developing AI tools for music professionals. In late August, Stability AI raised $76 million from investors including Sony, Warner, and Universal, who also licensed their catalogs for training. The company has since released three new audio models and AI music-editing software that can generate instrumental tracks or snippets from text prompts. An upcoming update will allow users to hum melodies or beatbox drum patterns to guide the AI.

• Stability AI raised $76 million in funding from investors including Sony, Warner, and Universal.
• Sony, Warner, and Universal licensed their music catalogs for training as part of the deal.
• Stability AI released three new audio models and AI music-editing software.

Sony and Berlin Phil Media Enter into Co-creation Partnership to Shape the Future of Experiencing Performing Arts

Sony and Berlin Phil Media announced a co-creation partnership to shape the future of experiencing performing arts, co-creating inspiring new experiences for artists and audiences through technology and creativity.