Hideki Sato, father of Sega hardware, dies at 77

According to a report by Japanese gaming publication Beep21, Hideki Sato, the ‘Father of Sega hardware’, passed away at age 77 on February 13, 2026. This unfortunate turn of events marked the end of an era in classic console gaming. Even the most remarkable journeys eventually reach their final page. If you didn’t know who Hideki Sato was or what his works were, below is a summary.

Hideki Sato’s legacy written in hardware

Sato was one of the most vital back-end engineers at Sega and designed the core circuitry within SEGA’s console systems. He joined the company in the early 1970s and gradually became a key player in core architectural design. For starters, he oversaw many of the company’s consoles, including the SG-1000, Sega Master System, the Sega Saturn, and the Dreamcast.

Sato realized that console hardware was not just about raw power; it was about laying the foundation that would help his teammates dream bigger. Sato worked on this realization and designed hardware such as the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, which were way ahead of their time.

Sega Dreamcast designed by Hideki Sato (Image via SEGA)

For context, the Saturn featured advanced 2D graphics capabilities, and its CPU used a complex dual-processor design that was difficult to program. The Dreamcast, on the other hand, went one step further: it integrated a built-in modem so gamers could play online, at a time when multiplayer or playing over the internet was still just a concept.

With his passing, the gaming industry loses one of its biggest pioneers. Sato may not have been the face of Sega on stage, but his work still lives inside many machines that retro collectors continue to run and play today. His legacy is not just written in history books but also in silicon and circuits, and it will endure for many generations ahead.