Sega considering Netflix-like game subscription service
SegaSega is considering launching its personal Netflix-like subscription services for video game, a maneuver which would expand gaming’s change towards streaming.
There are already a number of similar services available, including Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, where users pay a monthly payment to get a variety of names rather than to purchase them outright.
Sega’s leader Shuji Utsumi told the BBC for membership items were “very interesting”, and his company was “evaluating some options”.
” We’re thinking anything- and discussing anything- we never disclose best today”, he said.
Some in the business have expressed worry about the decision, but a source told the BBC that it could lead to gamers” shelling out more money” on various subscription services.
There are now many players in the area, with rivals like Nintendo, Ep, and Ubisoft all offering their personal membership plans. Never only Sony and Microsoft offer game subscriptions.
Getty ImagesNow, different Sega games are available across many streaming solutions.
Depending on the functions and activities offered, the price these companies separately vary. For instance, Xbox Game Pass costs range from £6.99 to £14.99 a fortnight, while PlayStation Plus ranges from £6.99 to £13.49 a month.
Therefore, it may make financial sense for Sega for players who are paying subscription costs more than Sega’s competitors.
It might be interesting to those who primarily want to enjoy Sega games, but for everyone else it might lead to higher costs.
Rachel Howie, who channels her own game on Twitch and is known as DontRachQuit to her followers, said she was “excited and worried” about another subscription services.
She told the BBC,” We have so many subscriptions now that we find it very difficult to justify signing up for a new one.”
” I believe SEGA will undoubtedly have a key dedicated audience that will gain from this,” said one analyst.” The average player will rather choose this over a Game Pass.”
And Sophie Smart, Production Director at UK designer No More Robots, agreed.
What I’d like to see more than anything from Sega, she said, “is that this is a stage in a contemporary way, as a person whose primary console was the Sega Mega Drive.”
She questioned, though, whether Sega had created a competing subscription services, which would cause their titles to be taken off of rival services.
If so, it might indicate that consumers are spending more money on buying various registration service, she said.
Bringing Sega up
Shuji Utsumi spoke to the BBC ahead of the launch of the movie Sonic 3 on Saturday, after a year in which he oversaw the launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like a Dragon: Eternal Wealth, and the latest Sonic the Hedgehog activity.
Unexpectedly, our talk began.
The very first thing Mr. Utsumi said to me sounded like it might have been wrong. The company, which dominated game in the 1990s and had a conflict with Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, properly had lost its way.
” I want to create Sega really beautiful again”, he said.
He claimed that Sega had been focusing too much on its home achievements in Japan and needed to re-establish itself on a world stage, which may require expanding beyond its current size.
” Sega has been miraculously losing confidence”, he said.
” But why? Sega has a great RPG team, Sega has wonderful Firewall, Sega is a truly well-known company.
” So I was like, hey, now is not the time to get defense- but more insulting.”
He claimed that when he took over, the business was very concerned about controlling expenses, and that he wants to “introduce a rock and roll mentality” to gambling.
He agreed when I explained that Sonic the Hedgehog was a well-known Sega advertising tactic in the 1990s.
Getty ImagesHe said the firm now just had” make a great sport “in the line.
” The next one is going to be a very hard, very interesting activity that we are working on, “he said.
He did not say whether Sega was thinking about doing a sequel to the popular Sonic Adventure line.
” Sonic Adventure was kind of a game-changer for Sonic, “he said.
” When we release it, it should be fine, it should be amazing- we need to meet or even exceed people’s aspirations, so it takes some time.”
Fans have been clamoring for the return of the Chao Garden, a much-loved online animal associated with Sonic Adventure.
Mr Utsumi said” we’ve been talking about it”- but would not go into further detail, just that he could no” say too much about it”.
Sega’s potential
Mr Utsumi understandably talked up the agency’s successes this year, which have included winning many games awards with new Internet Metaphor: ReFantazio, made by the group behind the Persona collection.
But it hasn’t all been good for the company, with job cuts in March, and Football Manager 2025 being delayed to next year.
“It was a hard decision,” he said of the cuts which saw 240 people lose their jobs.
” But when you restore the effort, you have to make that painful decision.”
And he claimed that” a superior issue” had caused the Football Manager to be delayed.
” I mean, economically, even providing the match at an early stage can be the better choice.
” But we decided to keep having the superior degree- to keep that control”.
And he also mentioned how Sega’s time has evolved beyond gaming, with the release of the next Sonic the Hedgehog film on Saturday, which will mark its third year of film and television adaptations.
” I just saw the film- it’s so much joy. If that kind of pleasure continued, that would be wonderful.
Getty Images
Despite the lack of initial funding, machinery, and expertise, the team remained undeterred. ” We overcame every obstacle by preserving our focus on our objective.” And even now, we’re continuously improving the product”, Ng said.
A greener tomorrow
