Sega's iconic Ikebukuro Gigo arcade closed its doors for the final time on Monday, and a lot of people were there to say goodbye.
Video games have become so easily accessible in the present day that for the most part, arcades are being left in the past.ꦆ A place where people used to go♕ to play games together, something that can now be done with ease without leaving the comfort of your own home.
The arcade scene took one of its biggest hits to date earlier this week. On Monday, the Sega Ikebukuro Gigo arcade closed its doors for the final time. Its closure wasn't brought about by a lack of use or popularity, however, as was demonstrated by the sheer number of people who came to say goodbye. People lined the streets outside of the arcade as its manager delivered a passionate speech atop a ladder right outside.
The manager relayed the Ikebukuro Gigo's 28-year history and clarified that the arcade was not closing due to COVID-19. He merely cited “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for the arcade's closure. According to , the lease agreement on the building has come to an end and there is a need for renovations. “If it were in my power, I’d want to stay open forever at this location and greet the happy faces of our wonderful customers,” the manager said.
Ikebukuro Gigo has been a prominent part of the Tokyo scene since it first opened all the ཧway back in 1993. It has been used to test new arcade games for decades, and while its exterior appearance has changed over the years, the nine stories that can be 💫found inside have always been chocked with some of the best arcade games you could possibly hope for.
The future of the Sega arcade scene does not appear to be a bright one. Ikebukuro Gigo is just the latest casualty, as last year the studio sold 85% of its arcade business. It then sold its western arcade▨ division a few months after tha🐟t in April of this year. All of that coupled with the closure of Ikebukuro Gigo may signal the end of Sega's involvement in the arcade scene after more than three decades.
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