Summary
- Sega is considering a gaming subscription service like Netflix for its titles.
- Sega is also delisting games across platforms, possibly to consolidate under one service.
Sega COO and recently appointed president Shuji Utsumi has said that the publisher is considering a Netflix-esque gaming subscription service for its games. The gaming industry has been transitioning to a more streaming-esque service, and Sega appears to be considering the same thing. Many gaming companies have also transitioned to providing games via a subscription service, as seen with Microsoft and Sony’s own services.
Microsoft has the Xbox Game Pass, while Sony offers PlayStation Plus. Subscribers have to pay a monthly or annual fee for access to a range of titles instead of just owning them outright. Other companies like Nintendo, EA, and Ubisoft have all offered their own subscription plans too, with Nintendo Switch Online in particular giving fans access to several classic games from Nintendo’s library, including the Sega Genesis platform at a higher tier. Based on recent comments made by Sega’s president, the publisher is heavily considering the possibility of opening its own subscription service.
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In a statement provided to BBC.com, Shuji Utsumi said that subscription productions like Netflix were interesting and that Sega is evaluating some opportunities that this would provide. This move to a Sega-based streaming gaming service is still very early, so it’s likely this idea is only in the planning stages. “We’re thinking something – and discussing something – we cannot disclose right now,” said Utsumi.
Sega’s Possible Subscription Service and Recent Delistings
Sega recently delisted several classic games across various platforms, including PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Some of these delisted games include the Sega Genesis Classics collection, Sonic the Fighters, Virtua Fighter 2, and many more. It’s possible that Sega is delisting all of these games across various services so it can consolidate its library under a single service. As such, it’s not implausible that Sega wants to put its games under one service and make a more direct profit from it.
While it could be a beneficial service for those who are big fans of Sega, there are already a lot of different subscription services available that gamers will have to pay for in order to keep up with the library. Various insiders who spoke with BBC.com voiced similar concerns, saying Sega considering its own rival subscription service will lead to its games being removed from other services.
Shuji Utsumi also spoke to BBC.com about his own confidence in reviving Sega with not only the Sonic franchise, but several other legacy IPs, as seen with upcoming reboots of properties like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio. As such, it seems like the publisher is transitioning to a more modern global strategy, such as opening its own gaming subscription service.
