Sega mulls games subscription service

Sega is exploring the possibility of launching its own video game subscription service similar to Netflix and Xbox Game Pass. 

The news comes after the firm delisted several Classics games including Sega Mega Drive, Classics, and Dreamcast Classics from digital storefronts like Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation. The company has a number of IPs in its portfolio, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Angry Birds, Total War and Football Manager.

“We’re thinking something – and discussing something – we cannot disclose right now,” said Sega president and CEO of Sega America and Sega Europe Shuji Utsumi in an interview with The BBC. 

Utsumi said he found subscription products “very interesting”, and confirmed the company was “evaluating some opportunities”.

If the game subscription service is launched, Sega would join publishers like Ubisoft and EA in offering games via a digital subscription model.

A path to revival

In the interview, Utsumi suggested Sega had lost its confidence in recent times. That’s despite shelling out approximately $775m for Angry Birds maker Rovio last year. 

“I want to make Sega really shiny again,” he said, adding: “Sega has been somehow losing confidence. But why? Sega has a great RPG group, Sega has amazing IPs, Sega is a really well-known brand. So I was like, hey, now is not the time to be defensive – but more offensive.”