Rieko Kodama, the pioneering developer down Sega classics including Phantasy Star and Skies of Arcadia, has died. She was 59.

The rumors aft a memorial connection to Kodama was spotted successful the credits of Mega Drive Mini 2. Asked whether the connection was so intended to bespeak that Kodama had died, Sega shaper Yosuke Oskunari said that she had.

Finally, the unit credits see a memorial connection for Rieko Kodama. She started arsenic an creator connected games specified arsenic Alex Kidd In Miracle World, Phantasy Star and Sonic The Hedgehog, and was the shaper for Skies Of Arcadia, 7th Dragon and astir precocious the Switch Sega Ages games. pic.twitter.com/v6xk8oUNYO

"As you recognize it," Okunari wrote. "We respected her."

Sega subsequently confirmed that Kodama died successful May, but was incapable to stock immoderate further details retired of respect for the privateness of her family.

A pioneering pistillate successful the games industry

Known arsenic Phoenix Rie successful her aboriginal works, Kodama broke into the games manufacture successful the mid-1980s, wherever she served arsenic a graphic decorator and past aboriginal arsenic a producer. Her credits see the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Skies of Arcadia, but she is best-known for her enactment arsenic 1 of the originative leads of the Phantasy Star series, serving arsenic the manager of Phantasy Star IV.

Though lauded arsenic a pioneer successful an manufacture dominated by men, Kodama was famously averse to the spotlight, deflecting recognition to the remainder of her squad erstwhile she was awarded a Pioneer Award astatine the Game Developers Choice Awards.

As you recognize it. We respected her.

"I’m not definite if it’s due to the fact that of Sega’s firm civilization oregon what, but I’ve ne'er felt that I was astatine a disadvantage conscionable due to the fact that I’m a woman. I’ve been moving connected assorted things related to crippled improvement for implicit 30 years now, and since joining Sega I haven’t been treated immoderate otherwise from men," Kodama said in an interview.

In different interview, she said that she didn't deliberation it was that antithetic for women to play games, observing that girls often gravitate toward RPGs. One of her astir notable works, Phantasy Star, stood retired due to the fact that it was 1 of the precise fewer games with a pistillate protagonist.

"As I'm a pistillate myself, erstwhile I marque games, I effort not to conscionable person them beryllium antheral phantasy figures, arsenic radical needing to beryllium rescued. I similar to marque pistillate characters radical of some genders tin subordinate to. But we are seeing much strong-willed women successful games geared towards pistillate audiences," Kodama said astatine the time.

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Thumbnail photograph credit: Game Developers Conference

Kat Bailey is simply a Senior News Editor astatine IGN arsenic good arsenic co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM astatine @the_katbot.