Sega Hardware Designer Hideki Sato Passes Away

Tech engineer and Hideki Sato has passed away. The news was verified by Beep21, a Japanese outlet for video games. The translated post reads as follows:

Known as the "Father of Sega Hardware," Mr. Hideki Sato passed away yesterday.

He was truly a great figure who shaped Japanese gaming history and captivated Sega fans all around the world.

The excitement and pioneering spirit of that era will remain forever in the hearts and memories of countless fans, for all eternity.

Rest in peace. Our deepest condolences.

Beep21

Graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan Technical College, Sato got his start with Sega in 1971, manufacturing and researching arcade hardware, as from the 60's and on, Sega would focus strongly on pinball machines and electronic interactive entertainment. A majority of Sega's home consoles were manufactured and designed by Sato and his team. The SG-1000, sega Master System, Sega Saturn, and the Sega Dreamcast. He's served in executive roles for a lot of software, including Burning Rangers, Sonic Adventure, Chu Chu Rocket!, and Phantasy Star Online I & II.

After Sega ended mainline console development with the Dreamcast, Sato would serve as the President of Sega from 2001 to 2003. He would part ways with the company in 2008 to form Advance Create. While the Sega brand has found success as a third party publisher/developer of software nowadays, without question their influence throughout the 80's and 90's had a strong impact on video game fans who were youth, and even adults.

His death would follow only two months after Sega co-founder David Rosen's passing at the age of 95 on Christmas of 2025. Hideki Sato was 77 years old.