Quote:In a company downsizing, SEGA of America (SoA) plans to relocate from its San Francisco base to Southern California.

SoA president and COO John Cheng explains the move as “crucial” to keep SEGA moving forward throughout North America, and will allow the company to continue offering content across gaming, TV and merchandising.

Relocation packages are on offer for a number of employees considering the move. That said, the amount of positions will be reduced as the company aims to “streamline operations.” SoA doesn’t know how many employees will be affected by the move, but the final amount will be released come early summer.

SEGA’s current release schedule shouldn’t be affected by the move, nor should the Sonic Boom television series current airing on Cartoon Network.

In Japan, around 300 SEGA employees are being offered voluntary retirement as part of the company’s restructuring effort.

Following the restructuring, SEGA’s new plan will see the company focus on digital and PC.

“Voluntary retirement will be solicited in the aforementioned businesses to be withdrawn or consolidated and downsized,” reads the press release, “while at the same time personnel will be repositioned in Digital Games and growth areas of Group mainly as development personnel, in order to establish a structure which can constantly generate profits. The purpose of these measures is to improve the business efficiency of the Group.”

According to SEGA’s projected results for the year ending March, 2015, the company still expects to turn a profit, albeit a much smaller profit compared to the same time last year.