Ikebukuro arcade rises from the ashes, set to open later this month
We’re back, baby! Last month, we reported on the closing of SEGA’s iconic GiGO Ikebukuro arcade in Japan. After 28 years, tourists and locals alike had to say goodbye on September 20, 2021, due to the expiration of the lease on the building. The farewell ceremony was an emotional one for viewers and staff, as videos uploaded to YouTube showed crowds gathering in support while the store went dark.
Today, we bring glad tidings! It seems SEGA had an extra 1UP and extended it to the arcade. Although not in the same building, the Ikebukuro arcade is coming back, to the delight of fans. It will inhabit the building right across the street from the original arcade.
News of the arcade’s return broke throughout Twitter and the internet this morning, and was confirmed by Genda SEGA Entertainment president Nao Kataoka. Teased as only volume 1 of the “Ikebukuro Project,” there are plans for volumes 2 and 3. At this time, it is anyone’s guess as to what that means. However, we are excited to see the events as they unfold!
The arcade opens on October 22. The building is smaller than the previous location, with only five floors to the original building’s eight. Just to prove that size, in this case, doesn’t matter, the new Ikebukuro arcade will include at the very least, the expected crane games, video games and a café. We hope to hear more design details as we draw closer to the grand opening.
What do you think of the “reboot?” Will it hold as much sentiment as the old arcade did? Sound off!
