Overview
- Sega issued a condolence statement confirming Sato’s passing and highlighting his role as president from 2001 to 2003.
- The company credited him with leading development of key systems including the SG-1000, SC-3000, Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast.
- Japanese history zine Beep21 first reported that he died on February 13, with outlets noting conflicting reports on whether he was 75 or 77.
- Sato joined Sega in 1971, led its R&D in the early 1990s, and left the company in 2008 after helping steer its transition away from console manufacturing.
- Retrospectives spotlight the Dreamcast’s forward-looking design focus on online play and communication, including its built-in modem and VMU features.