Sega's Splitting Its Amusement And Video Game Divisions, Triggering Rumours That An Acquisition Is Afoot

If they are brought up please let it be Nintendo that buy them.

Welp, if it does end up being the case that Microsoft successfully buys SEGA then Bayonetta 3 and SMTV aren't coming to Switch. Among other bad things, Microsoft haven't handled 1st party studios well since the 360 era.

Nintendo pulling off a Bethesda...

God I freaking hope it's Nintendo, and this is purely because Super Nintendo Land is a thing and they don't want to manage both...

While it'd never happen, they would actually pair well with Nintendo. Nintendo has the development staff to make better use of their IPs (especially Sonic & Bayonetta, but nearly anything), while Sega's much better at handling multimedia things such as comics, tv shows, movies, books, etc.

If Nintendo acquires them, it's gonna be a fun break time conversation for 90's kids.

@Grumblevolcano Lol, even if Microsoft buys them, those games would come to Switch. Just no further sequels. Except maaaaybe Bayonetta, we could see that as a Microsoft / Nintendo co-exclusive given how the rights are split

I PRAY Nintendo acquires them... that would be a POWER move on their part.

I wish it would be nintendo, but it maybe microsoft. I just hope and pray it is not EA. though

@link3710 With moves like the recent gigantic Gold price hike which fortunately got reversed (the purpose of the price hike was clearly to force people onto Game Pass), I could see Microsoft use Bayonetta 3 and SMTV to try to convince Nintendo to put Game Pass on the Switch (put Game Pass on the Switch or lose those 2 games kind of thing).

I absolutely don’t see Nintendo buying them, they just don’t throw their money around in that way. If anyone, it’ll be Microsoft. Not sure I’d be that happy given how many series are tied up on all three major consoles. Just... leave companies independent?

@Grumblevolcano Those games would probably be fine, but I wonder what would happen with Atlus. They're way too big for Nintendo and Sony for them to just go along with it and I doubt the devs would stick around if anyone actually bought them.
Also Bayonetta 3 is already financed by Nintendo iirc.

This is worrying... Mainly for Atlus.

This isn't a signal to suggest they are being bought lol. Calm down everyone.

Interesting timing given the sudden rumours that Microsoft are about to announce the purchase of another major studio...

Read an article this morning at NL's XBox-dedicated sister site that Microsoft is possibly in the process of another "Bethesda-level" acquisition. While from an overall IPs standpoint Sega would certainly fit the bill, I just don't know if being bought out by Microsoft would be the best long-term outcome for gamers. One only has to look at their handling of Rare to see that they don't tend to prioritize retro IPs, family friendly titles, or genres that stay far from "Western" tastes in practice.

Best case scenario would be Nintendo is buying Sega. But let's be honest; that's unlikely to happen. I guess all we can do is watch and wait to see how this plays out.

I don't think this means they're getting bought but if they do I wish it would be nintendo. I know they don't buy studios often but they already work together and I want persona 5 on switch

@AtlanteanMan If microsoft bought them I don't think it would be good. Like you said they don't care much about retro titles and I think it would be bad for atlus.

I would love if Nintendo bought them, altho I could see it going a different way. Like 7-Eleven or someone stupid buying them 😝

Anyone but Microsoft or EA. Those two will butcher what's left of them.

@nessisonett that’s a nice idea but with Tencent on a buying spree, and maybe others- it’s hard to make the industry stay “separate” .

@Grumblevolcano Bayonetta 3 will still come to the Switch given Nintendo is funding the development of that game and they get along Microsoft pretty well.

Also, Microsoft is honoring all existing agreements such as the two PS5 exclusives that Bethesda was developing before they were bought.

So, at the very least, Bayonetta 3 is fine.

I will say, if they get the rights to something like Persona 6 on the Xbox, that could be a major blow to Sony.

If Sega is bought, I think Sony will walk away as the biggest loser here, especially if Microsoft keeps focused and let's Atlus do their thing.

Losing Persona will draw alot of Playstation gamers over to the Xbox.

April fools! But seriously, another company for Tencent perhaps? Please no!

I would love it if Nintendo would buy Sega. But as mentioned above, it seems un-Nintendo like. That said, with their recent success and acquisition, MSFT buying up everything, I could see it happening.

PLEASE not Microsoft after the way they squandered Rare's talents.

Their first game together would probably be Shadow The Hedgehog 2!

@GVIL Yeah then Nintendo can have even more franchises they can ignore!

@hadrian ..or more quality first pay games to fill the gaps between releases.

I don't believe this means that Sega is about to be bought out.
Sega sold 85% of Sega Entertainment back in early November, so it doesn't surprise me that they're splitting up the divisions. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Sega Entertainment (arcade side) division gets dissolved by the end of the year, if the arcades continue to do as bad as they are. 🤔

The "acceleration of global business development by streamlining [SEGA Sammy’s] structure" also doesn't surprise me because Sega said a while ago that they were trying to have simultaneous worldwide releases, so this move was probably done to do just that. 🤔

@Grumblevolcano I think Microsoft buying them would definitely be a great move for them, but I don't think it would affect Bayo or SMTV coming to Switch. Both have been in development for Switch for several years, and Microsoft has already honored several other purchased studios' prior commitments. If anything, they'd just no longer be exclusives to Nintendo.

Microsoft would be disastrous. They do nothing with the companies they buy.

Sony is trash. They pander to the west and are going full censorship mode.

Nintendo or Namco are the only good mergers for Sega

f it does end up being the case that Microsoft successfully buys SEGA then Bayonetta 3 and SMTV aren't coming to Switch.

I could see Microsoft use Bayonetta 3 and SMTV to try to convince Nintendo to put Game Pass on the Switch

@Grumblevolcano SMT V was promoted by Nintendo at the Switch launch event, and recently was featured heavily in a Mini-Direct. I am 99% sure there are contractual or financial obligations between the companies.

Don't be overly influenced by all the emotions around this forum. The business world doesn't work this way, especially in a protocol-heavy nation like Japan. Even if MS could "buy" SMT V out from under Nintendo that way, the repercussions and reputational damage would be enormous.

If any company tries to acquire Sega, it'll probably be a battle considering their relationship with Nintendo and the importance of series like Persona to Sony. I predict it'll end up playing out like Codemasters where another company swoops in with more money to secure Sega

If Sega sells off their arcade division, it would only be part of a trend by Japanese corporations to divest of divisions that are not considered "core" to the business. You could maybe convince me that MS could buy Sega's arcade division... if they were interested... simply because it would be a hardware foothold in Japan. I doubt it, though.

Japanese government and business do not simply sit by and allow their assets and industrial might to be purchased wholesale by foreigners. I think a partial or total buyout of Sega is likely to originate with a Japanese concern... and one not named Nintendo.

@hadrian or make a sweet 3D sonic game🤔

It's absurd te hoops and leaps in logic people do with this kind of information.
I've seen people jumping to conclusions that clearly show how we fans don't understand the first thing about how these companies work and are managed, and these articles/comments only amount to unsubstantiated speculation without any rhyme or reason behind them.

If anything this just screams to me that the amusement division might be on its way out for obvious reasons. It wouldn't be impossible for SEGA to be bought out, of course, but honestly the only really surprising thing about this move is that it didn't happen earlier.

Honestly I really hope no one buys SEGA but if it means a Sakura Wars HD Collection I certainly would budge easily.

People, stop worrying. Stop catastrophizing about various scenarios that not only haven't happened but might well never happen. Whatever happens COULD be great.

It could also be that nothing happens. Japanese companies are unpredictable.

Nintendo buys Sega and will finally have Persona 5 on the Switch this way. The SMT and Persona duo will be very enticing to see on one unified console.

@Grumblevolcano Oh, Microsoft aren't fools, they know where money is, hence why they still make Minecraft for every system available and they're still releasing Bethesda games for the PS4 and PS5.

So if they buy Sega, they'd still make games for other systems guaranteed.

If Nintendo would buy Sega we will finally see the old Console wars coming to an end. With Nintendo being victorious.

Nintendo could not make a Sonic game. They just don't have the vibe. I really hope nobody buys them, I just got a PS5, I don't want to buy an Xbox as well.

Unlike Bethesda, there is no evidence that Sega is looking to be sold, let alone to Microsoft.

I can totally see Microsoft buying Sega since they really need a lot of help against Sony.

In a (hugely) optimistic scenario, just imagine the possibilities if A) Sega did merge with Nintendo and B) Nintendo actually made use of their mountain of long-dormant IPs. Shining Force vs. Fire Emblem, anyone? Zelda X Landstalker? A sequel or current-gen remake of F-Zero GX? Skies of Arcadia, Dragon Force, Shinobi, console versions/compilations of classic Sega coin-ops?

All of that would be a gaming enthusiast's dream come true. But of course we all know too well how differently things tend to play out. At the end of the day, corporations don't see things the way gamers do; they only see $$$ and profit margins. That will very likely impact whatever happens not just with regard to a potential acquisition/merger but beyond.

The idea of a Sonic game with the creativity and polish of a Nintendo made game would be a dream come true.

In a way I hope Microsoft does buy Sega - more stuff added to Gamepass and if Nintendo vuys it all we can likely expect is Saturn & Dreamcast ports for £50 each.
Nintendo isn't doing anything new with their own IP's so how could they reboot another companies.

I want Nintendo to make a 3D sonic game in the worst way. It would bring sonic back to his early 90s glory

If nintendo gets them they wold be a bigger compeny like hell they should go for it they already got sonic games on nintendo only hardwere.

Also does this mean sonic A1& A2 remakes are real along with the new leaked sonic rift? Edit: If microsoft buys theme out there going to do jack with it just like rear we all know we wished nintendo bought out theme instead.

I'm surprised Microsoft never bought SEGA, they almost had made a deal where the original Xbox would have been able to play Dreamcast games. And if Microsoft has bought SEGA, maybe they could have rebranded the Xbox systems in Japan where Microsoft notoriously performs poorly with the Xbox. They could have called the systems the SEGA Xbox in Japan and i bet they would have sold much better in Japan. It would have felt like SEGA was still in the console game with the Xbox systems as the spiritual successors to the Dreamcast especially if all SEGA games would have then been exclusive to Microsoft.

Sega's arcade and pachinko business cratered due to COVID, while their gaming business is doing moderately well.

Splitting up their amusement and gaming divisions makes it clear to investors which halves of their business are doing good or not in a situation like this current one.

Nothing will come out of this.

@Guru_Larry Sonic will be like Banjo Kazooie if Microsoft buys them. They will do one sonic game and never again just like they did with most of rares games. And btw is this the real Larry? if you are I'm subscribed dude love the vids.

@Vasilios
My heart is still bleeding because of that. Although Nuts & Bolts wasn't a bad game, just a bad B-K-game. I wonder, if Sony could be an option, didn't they wanted to make a console together once?

@RareFan Yea for real. and they could but I think Sega was mainly trying to do a console or something with microsoft I dont think they did anything with sony. I hope they stay independent or get bought out by Nintendo but honestly probably they will remain independent

Microsoft will buy X Japanese company is becoming a meme at this point.

@Grumblevolcano Why does SMTV stand for?

I kind of hope it's not Nintendo, because that would kill off all fan games and mods. Well, that, and we'd only be getting games on their platforms.

Xbone was the best era of Xbox they knew their place now they’re like some despotic country looking to annex everything they can reach.

@Kislevi03one and having a couple of established franchises exclusive to consoles they never had a big footprint on achieves what exactly? It's not great from a business sense and terrible for players

I can't decide between Mexican food and pizza tonight.

if anyone other than nintendo gets a hold of them, it will be a train wreck.
especially if its microsoft, who should of never got into the video game console business to begin with and hasn't been much more than a knock-off playstation for years

@GVIL true. If Nintendo does buy Sega, then Sonic is is really good hands.

@Grumblevolcano While there is that possibility if we use the acquisition of Bethesda to Microsoft as a historical reference, Microsoft will likely allow any previous platform decisions and previous arrangement to make games for other platforms example being what SEGA made with Nintendo for the 2 games you mention to hold steady course and be unaffected. However; a potential acquisition of Sega to Microsoft could mean Bayonetta 3 and Shin Megami Tensai V would then become multi-platform titles coming to Switch and the XBox Series of consoles. Too soon to tell though. No one has announced an acquisition of SEGA just yet. Just food for thought here and until next time I am out!

@Mr-Fuggles777 Microsoft didn't do jack with most of the devs they bought either. They only bought it to strengthen their IPs, they could had hundreds of IPs but if they don't know what to do with those then it's a waste. The fact that we still had no new Banjo, Conker, Jet Force Gemini, Blast Corp, and Kameo game is just disappointing.

@Egit-kun Sega's brand was never that popular in Japan either, all Sega would help Xbox is burying both of them under Nintendo and Sony's grasp. Killing two birds with one stone. If there's one company that could had help or save Microsoft in Japan it's Sony and Microsoft just screw themselves by going against Sony. Sony help Microsoft with the manufacturing and advertisement of the MSX back in the late 80s, for Microsoft to turn against Sony means that Sony won't stop until the Big M finally falls.

I heard the other day MS has an extra $5B lying around

@Ghost_of_Hasashi Bro, your fanboyism
is showing. MS has to money to buy all of Sony if they wanted to. Remember when MS dropped $1B on warranty repairs to fix RROD’d 360’s without batting an eye?

@DrDaisy just put taco meat on your pizza

@SalvorHardin if you believe that, you must never have owned a X360 and/or got one late in its life cycle. MS peaked with the 360.

Microsoff buying Sega imo is the worst option for Sega fans, I just don't see them using the IP correctly at all, look at Rare for instance. I do however think it's the most likely, Microsoft are pointless in Japan and this could be the deal that sees them make great strides over there.

Nintendo won't stump up the cash for such a deal, it just isn't how they operate.

Tencent wouln't be out of the realm of possibility though and I'm not sure how I would feel about that one.

They did something similar back during the console wars and this could be just a strategy to streamline decisions making since Sega will shoot themselves in the foot every time if you let them. I love them but they are truly dysfunctional for a Japanese company.

@Grumblevolcano even in the 360 era we got Perfect Dark Zero 🤢

@Morph I’m thinking a MS buyout would probably lead to them slapping legacy SEGA products into GamePass to add some nostalgia marketing to their services.

Or hell, maybe SEGA is keeping the games and selling entertainment to Disney

I can see that video games are in a world of their own and anything else are just spin offs, very lucrative ones maybe but still spin offs.

@GVIL Whoever has the guts to do this, I think they have a potentially huuuge cash cow on their hands if handled right.

@Lordd_G A nice suggestion, but I'm trying to avoid meat now. Eating animals may have fueled my homicidal tendencies.

When the rumors hit about MS buying Sega, I specifically pointed out that MS wouldn't do it because the amusement business. Sega's been thinning itself down, and now this. Makes sense to me. And, I think it still makes sense that it would be MS and not Nintendo. I think MS would do more with the back catalog then Nintendo would, and therefore probably thinks Sega has more value than Nintendo does.

However, I think from a regulator view it would be harder for MS to clear the purchase than Nintendo given the sizeable purchases MS has done recently.

@Vasilios Thanks dude, yeah it is indeed me

@RupeeClock I highly doubt that they would start another arcade even thought it'd be an amazing business choice. Sega's arcade pulled in almost half or more money than sonic games alone.

@Guru_Larry I told my friend we interacted on a message board and he does not believe me haha made my day thanks man!

@Arcata lol, no worries dude