Ryosuke Horii, Producer at RGG Studio Employee Interview | SEGA Careers Site

EMPLOYEE INTERVIEWS

Producer

A Lyricist behind compelling games that stir players' hearts

Joined in 2006

1st Development Division
Producer Ryosuke Horii

＼ Career Path ／

Participated in multiple extracurriculars in college, including magazine production, university festival management, performing in a band, and playwriting.

Joined SEGA, providing support during voice recording.
Fostered a stronger awareness of the creative process by watching the cast act.

Worked as a game designer on the Like a Dragon & Yakuza Series, with a focus on story content and minigames like Karaoke.

Currently the Chief Director of RGG Studio.
Continues to pursue new ways to entertain players.

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02STEP 2

03STEP 3

04STEP 4

Q1
What I Studied

During college, I made magazines as part of the publishing club. I was also vice chair of the student committee that organized our campus festival, performed in a band, and dabbled in playwriting. Instead of tying myself down to one pursuit, I spent my time exploring different creative outlets. Those experiences continue to inspire my work in game development in various ways.

Q2
Why I Joined SEGA

As a lifelong gamer, I've always loved SEGA—enough to have eight SEGA Saturns. Plus, I wanted to apply because I'd be able to put my experiences from college, especially those in music and writing, to good use. Games are a unique form of entertainment built upon many forms of creative expression. To me, someone who loves creating things that inspire people, SEGA was the perfect place to be.

Q3
My First Assignments at SEGA

I started out assisting the voice recording sessions for Yakuza 2. I prepared scripts, managed the approved takes, and jotted down revisions on the spot to ensure that dialogue was implemented correctly. Seeing Tetsuya Watari and other high-caliber actors and voice actors up close as they tackled their roles and lines stuck with me. Observing their respect toward their craft as creators was an invaluable learning experience.

Q4
Biggest Surprise After Joining SEGA

I was surprised to learn that age isn't the defining factor—any employee with enough skill and passion can play a major role. As a large company with a long history, I had expected seniority to be a part of the culture here. Instead, SEGA treats even newer employees as valuable contributors and listens to their ideas. As long as you're willing to keep learning new things, you'll find many opportunities for creative growth.

Horii speaking at an event in Malaysia to celebrate the launch of Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, a title he produced

Q5
Current Duties

I oversee the direction and production of large-scale console titles, primarily in the Like a Dragon & Yakuza Series. As chief director, I define each project's overall vision, identify core concepts for new gameplay, and review both game design and story content. It's my job to make sure that new games are fun. As a producer, I collaborate with our advertising and merchandising teams on ways to convey the appeal of our games.

Q6
Motivation and Successes

I played in a band in college and had dreamed of someday filling a large venue. That's why there was no better feeling than putting on RYU GA GOTOKU THE LIVE, a concert full of music from the series I've been working on for so long. The Karaoke minigame I proposed early on became a fan-favorite feature, and we've added more songs as we've gone along. Finally, all those songs could no longer be contained by the games and became a full-blown concert. In that moment, all that work came together and made my dream a reality.

Q7
Future Goals

I hope to launch an original IP of my own. I've spent many years working on the Like a Dragon & Yakuza Series and exploring its world in depth, but to me, taking on new creative challenges is an important aspect of building a future for SEGA and our studio. I'd love to create a game that breaks past the limits of genre and expectations from our past work and delivers the joy of gaming to numerous people. At the same time, I'd want to keep growing and refining my judgment as a director to make the best games possible.

Q8
SEGA's Appeal

What stands out most is how many people here are driven by a desire to create something great. Rather than simply completing the tasks assigned to their particular roles, people share ideas and collaborate to raise the quality of the work. SEGA has also built up a lot of expertise and technology through so many years of making games and hardware, which makes things easier. Anyone can pursue and realize their dreams and goals here.

Q9
Message to Applicants

I'm excited to work with people who are passionate about creating things and moving others. Knowledge and technical skills can be developed over time, but no one can give you passion. Game development is a long process that requires collaboration with many people, so it is important to remain resilient and sincere when things are difficult and don't go as planned. I'd love to work with anyone who can convey their dreams, inspire others around them, and help us make our creations even more entertaining.

Q10
A Recent Highlight

Since I'm a lyricist on the side, I worked on an album alongside Goro Matsui, a fellow lyricist who I've looked up to. When I saw my name printed next to his in the finished album booklet, I was overjoyed. The fact that the experience I gained writing lyrics for in-game karaoke songs led to creative opportunities beyond gaming was incredibly rewarding.