Key Takeaways
1. Danny Russell announced his departure from Sega after over seven years, reflecting on his career and achievements on LinkedIn.
2. He was instrumental in launching and managing Sega Forever, a project aimed at bringing classic games to iOS and Android, which evolved into a game preservation initiative.
3. Sega Forever’s social media presence became a hub for retro gaming fans, but went silent in August 2023 amid speculation of layoffs at Sega.
4. Russell hinted at internal issues and personal struggles, including stress and bullying, during his time at the company.
5. He expressed gratitude to fans and collaborators while sharing hopes for the future of Sega’s legacy IPs and the potential revival of Sega Forever.
Former Senior Global Community Manager at Sega of America, Danny Russell, has announced his departure from the company after more than seven years, sharing the news on LinkedIn.
In his post, he wrote, “After some time away from socials for personal reasons, I’m ready to share that last year I moved on from Sega, closing an incredible chapter of my career.”
Achievements and Initiatives
Russell reflected on his proudest moments, particularly the launch and management of Sega Forever, which started from the ground up. Sega Forever was introduced in 2017 as part of the company’s effort to bring back classic games to iOS and Android.
The project transformed from a simple retro-emulation service into a broader game preservation initiative, focusing on preserving and showcasing rare digital assets and retrospectives.
The Voice of Retro Gaming
Sega Forever’s account on X became a hub for retro gaming fans globally, with frequent updates until it went silent in August 2023. The last message celebrated the restoration of the Sonic statue from SEGAWORLD London at Gamescom.
There is speculation that the sudden silence was linked to layoffs at Sega. In September 2023, Russell removed a post that hinted at some internal issues. He wrote:
What should you do when you’ve been bullied all year and no one is helping, five months after raising a grievance. I have been off ill in recent weeks, adapting to medication due to the stress of this past year, and this bully has used this time to take even more away from me.
Future of Sega Forever
In January 2025, Sega hinted at a revival of the Sega Forever project through a rebranded X account, but nothing new has materialized since then. By June 2025, many classic titles were removed from Android and iOS platforms. However, players who had previously downloaded these games are still able to play them offline.
Russell wrapped up his post by expressing his gratitude, saying:
I am deeply grateful to fans, collaborators, content creators, and partners I worked with along the way. Your creativity and passion made every project special.
He also shared his excitement about seeing Shinobi make a comeback and expressed hope that other legacy IPs he supported, like Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Virtua Fighter, will get the recognition they deserve. He wished his colleagues at Sega the best for the future.
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