Sega's iconic Akihabara Arcade has been purchased by a new owner, rival publisher Bandai Namco. The arcade space is set to reopen March 1.
For those unfamiliar, Sega has had a large arcade presence in the Akihabara district of Japan, which is a small section of the Chiyoda Ward. The area is a bustling shopping center that has countless shops dedicated to anime, manga, and gaming, making it a natural tourist destination. For many visitors, one of the most famous spots in the district is the Sega Akihabara Arcade Building 4, a large center where anyone could pop in to play arcade games new and classic. Sega has even included the arcade as a location in the popular Yakuza (now Like A Dragon) series, where players can go to play games and win prizes.
With such a storied history, it was a blow to fans when, in 2020, Arcade 2 shut down as Sega announced that it was scaling down its arcade business. Arcade 4 followed suit in 2022, closing its doors. For many, this was a piece of history, now lost for future generations.
Reports in January 2023 brought some good news, even if it was unverified. Rumors were circulating that Arcade 4 would be purchased and repurposed by rival publisher Bandai Namco, which has now confirmed the March reopening. This new arcade will host Bandai Namco products exclusively, but the pool is relatively large. The publisher is known for its fighting game output, with its most popular title being Tekken, which will no doubt have a strong presence at the arcade. Other titles that might show up include Mario Kart Arcade and, of course, Pac-Man.
The publisher also confirmed that it would be opening other stores in the building that specialize in its trading card market and capsule games. The move to have a dedicated TCG space is a strategic one, as the company is preparing for the worldwide release of its new card game, Battle Spirits Saga, making the new arcade location a prime spot for purchasing and tournaments in Akihabara. This new arcade should also breathe new life into the district's market. Sega held an iron grip on the area for decades, but with the company becoming more hands-off with arcades, this could be the time for a new competitor to hit the scene. Time will tell if Bandai will expand out, possibly purchasing Arcade 2 in the future, but as it stands, visitors to Akihabara will have more options starting March 1.