Publisher blames "significant changes" in US and European markets...

Sega Sammy Holdings has confirmed that it is expecting to record and "extraordinary" operating loss of 7.1 billion yen (about �54 million) for the end of this fiscal year.

The company blamed a "challenging economic environment" particularly in the US and Europe, as well has changes in the home console market.

As a result, it was announced that the video game arm Sega will see itself streamlined in a move that will see multiple projects cancelled.

Sega did not reveal which titles had been canned, but it stated that the franchises that are expected to perform solidly - Sonic the Hedgehog, Football Manager, Total War, and Aliens - would be immune from cancellation.

The news might now bode well for fans who were waiting to see Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai get a western release. Meanwhile, Sega's Rhythm Thief is due out in Europe on April 5th.