Sega is thinking about launching a game subscription service similar to Netflix.
Sega is thinking of starting its own. Video game subscription service. Sega is thinking about similar to Netflix, which would hasten the shift of gaming to streaming.
Similar services currently exist on the market, including Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Where users pay a monthly fee to access a variety of games instead of purchasing them outright.
Shuji Utsumi, president of Sega. Told the BBC that his company was “considering potential options” and that such subscription offerings were “quite interesting.”
“At this time, we are unable to reveal what we are contemplating and talking about,” he stated.
The plan has drawn criticism from some in the business, who told the. BBC that it may result in players “shelling out more money” for several subscription services.
Sega is thinking about with competitors like. Nintendo, EA, and Ubisoft all providing their own membership schemes, there are now a plethora of players in the market in addition to Sony and Microsoft.
Numerous Streaming Providers Currently Offer a Variety of Sega Games.
The features and games offered determine how much each of these services costs separately. For instance, Xbox Game Pass costs between £6.99 and £14.99 per month. But PlayStation Plus costs between £6.99 and £13.49 per month.
Therefore, it would be more profitable for Sega if players paid subscription fees to it instead of its competitors.
Additionally, it might appeal to those who primarily want to play Sega games. But it might result in higher prices for everyone else.
“Excited and apprehensive” about another subscription service. Rachel Howie, who goes by DontRachQuit on Twitch, is a gamer who streams herself playing games.
She told the BBC, “We find it very difficult to justify. Joining up for a new one because we currently have so many subscriptions.”
Will the typical gamer pick this over something like Game Pass. Even though I believe SEGA will have a core, loyal following that will profit from it?
Seeing Sega flourish and this feel like a move in a current direction is what. I would desire more than anything. She remarked, referring to the Sega Mega Drive as her first console.
However, she questioned whether. Sega’s games would be taken down from other platforms if they did launch a competing subscription service.
“If that is the case, it may indicate that customers are spending. More money on having several subscription services,” she stated.
Returning Sega
After overseeing the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the most recent Sonic the Hedgehog game for a year, Shuji Utsumi spoke to the BBC prior to the Saturday release of the movie Sonic 3.
The beginning of our chat was unexpected.
Mr. Utsumi’s initial statement to me seemed to imply that the company, which dominated the gaming industry in the 1990s with a competition between Nintendo’s Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, might have lost its way.
His words, “I want to make Sega very shiny again,”
He claimed that Sega needed to re-establish itself on a worldwide scale, which would require growing beyond its base, because it had been concentrating too much on domestic success in Japan.
He stated, “Sega has been somehow losing confidence.”
“But why? Sega is a very well-known brand, has fantastic IPs, and a fantastic RPG group.I then thought, “Hey, now is not the time to be defensive; instead, be more offensive.”
He claimed he wants to “introduce a rock and roll mindset” to gaming since when he came over, the company was too focused on cost control.
He Agreed When I Told Him That It Sounded Familiar Because Sonic.
The Hedgehog was frequently positioned as the hipster alternative to Mario in Sega’s marketing during the 1990s.
The company now just needs to “create a wonderful game” in the series, he said.
He stated, “We are working on a game that will be fairly tough and fascinating in the future.”
However, he would not say if Sega was thinking about making a sequel to the popular Sonic Adventure series.
He claimed that “Sonic Adventure was somewhat of a game-changer for Sonic.”
“We need to match or even beyond people’s expectations, so it takes some time, but when we release it, it should be good and impressive.”
Fans have been demanding that the Chao Garden, a beloved virtual pet that is linked with Sonic Adventure, return to the franchise.
“We have been discussing it,” Mr. Utsumi stated. But he would not elaborate. Stating simply that he was unable to “speak too much about it.”
The future of Sega
Unsurprisingly, Mr. Utsumi highlighted the company’s accomplishments this year, including the new IP Metaphor: ReFantazio, created by the Persona series team, earning numerous gaming accolades.
However, not everything has gone well for the company; in March, there were layoffs, and Football Manager 2025 was postponed until the following year.
He remarked, “It was a hard decision,” regarding the layoffs that resulted in 240 job losses.
“But you have to make that difficult choice when you reset the initiative.”
He added that “a quality issue” was the reason for the delay in Football Manager.
“I mean, from a financial standpoint, it could be wiser to offer the game early.”However, we made the decision to maintain that discipline and the quality level.
Additionally, he discussed how Sega’s year has expanded beyond video games, with a number of film and television adaptations culminating in the release of the third Sonic the Hedgehog feature on Saturday.
“I recently watched the film, and I had a great time. It would be good if that level of enthusiasm continued.
