ALBAWABA - Hideki Sato, the designer behind the iconic SEGA consoles and the company's former president, passed away at the age of 77.
Japanese outlet Beep21 confirmed the tragic news via a post on social media. Sato started his career with Sega in 1971 and continued working for the Japanese tech giant till the early 2000s. He is best known for developing Sega's arcade games and home consoles, which were present in many Gen X and Xennial households.
Father of Sega hardware Hideki Sato passes away at 77
Hideki Sato led the design of all Sega consoles from the early 80s till the late 90s, including the SG-1000 (1983), Master System (1985), Genesis, Saturn (1994), and Dreamcast (1998).
According to Engaget, Beep21, which often interviewed Sato, wrote in Japanese, "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."
Many fans took to social media to thank Sato for creating what helped shape the gaming industry up until now.
A social media user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Rest in peace Mr Hideki Sato and the Sato family I hope can grieve. Legendary game inventor of #Sega company. #videogames."
Another wrote, "Rest in power, legend. We can't thank you enough for everything."
