Hardlight joins the ‘Sega Europe pillar structure’ as Neall Jones is promoted to studio director

Sega has announced it’s studio Hardlight, owned by the company since 2012, has been “integrated into the Sega Europe pillar structure”.

Neall Jones – who worked for companies like Codemasters, Eidos and Traveller’s Tales before joining Hardlight six years ago – has been promoted to studio director. The company believes the change “will see Hardlight working very closely with Sega Europe’s Executive Vice President of Studios, Tim Heaton, and President/COO, Gary Dale, to ensure a smooth transition”.

The award-winning Leamington Spa studio will continue to work on the recently announced Apple Arcade-exclusive title Sonic Racing, which is expected to release later this year, and its “primary focus” will be developing for mobile devices. The transition to the Sega Europe pillar structure – alongside Creative Assembly, Relic Entertainment, Sports Interactive and Amplitude Studios – will “unlock the team’s potential to work across a whole range of exciting projects for Sega and its studios”. Sega reports Jones “will be working on expanding the already existing team” as Hardlight plans “to double in size over the next few years”.

“We’re delighted to welcome Hardlight officially into the Sega Europe pillar structure. Neall was the ideal candidate to take over as studio director in what is destined to be a very exciting period of growth and development for the studio” said Tim Heaton, executive vice president of studios at Sega Europe. “His experience and commitment have been an asset to Sega and his leadership will help guide Hardlight to success in their current and future projects.”

“It’s a really exciting time to be in the games development industry and with new platforms being announced and mobile gaming continuing to rise in popularity and revenue, the context of running one of the UK’s best and most specialised mobile development studios makes it all the more exciting” said Neall Jones, studio director at Hardlight. “I’m extremely pleased to start my new role as Studio Director in what is set to be a new era for Hardlight, as part of the Sega Europe pillar structure.”