Sega celebrates its 60th anniversary with freebies on Steam

Sega is offering Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for free download, in a nod to how the franchise was one of its most successful products ever. — Sega

Japanese game developer Sega turns 60 and is celebrating with a host of freebies and related content on game distribution platform Steam.

“To celebrate, we will mark each of those years with a day of exciting content to give you, our players, an insiders’ look at what has made Sega what it is today,” it said on its microsite.

For nine weeks, between Oct 14 and Dec 13, gamers would be able to download mini games and unreleased prototype games, watch interviews with developers and also get discounts on current games.

It said the mini games would be available for a limited time only and would be removed from the Steam store after the promotion period.

Each week would highlight one of Sega’s studios like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Relic Entertainment and Sports Interactive.

Gamers will also be able to download classic platformer Sonic The Hedgehog 2, featuring its famous blue echidna speedster, for free until 1am on Oct 20.

Founded in 1960, Sega got its start making arcade machines and later entered the console market in the ‘80s.

It gained commercial success with the Sega Genesis, better known in the region as the Sega Mega Drive, with the release of Sonic The Hedgehog in 1991.

It ceased making consoles in 2002, but continued developing its own games, with franchises like strategy game Total War, action adventure game Yakuza and more editions of Sonic The Hedgehog.