Metaverses are so hot right now, and it looks like Sega is making the moves to create their own. You might know the concept of 'metaverse' from Fortnite, Space Jam, or Ready Player One — it's basically a hub where you can find all of your favourite brands and fictional characters, all in the same place.
Unsurprisingly, with Sega's stable of characters, they're looking to do the same, combining recognisable names like Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Monkey Ball, and Persona into what they're calling a "super game".
The company announced today that they would be partnering up with Microsoft to create these super games, using Microsoft's "state-of-the-art" Azure cloud technology. According to Sega's own press release on the deal, the company will be guided by the principle keywords of "global", "online", "community", and "IP utilization".
"By building mutual cooperation in fields such as SEGA's game development capabilities and Microsoft's state-of-the-art technology and development environment construction, we will further promote game development that can be enjoyed by game fans around the world."
- Yukio Sugino, President and COO of SEGA
Sega is not the first company to use Microsoft's cloud tech — two years ago, Sony also struck a deal with them, cementing a new friendship between the former/current gaming rivals. In fact, Sega also used Microsoft Azure to launch Phantasy Star Online 2 in North America.
Sega's super game plans include rolling together their most popular series, like Total War, Football Manager, and Sonic, as well as potentially reviving "dormant" classics such as Crazy Taxi and Virtua Fighter. They're also hoping to "optimize" their business into being more profitable, which includes mobile games and "amusement machines", something that Konami pivoted into a few years back.
What are your hopes for Sega's SUPER GAMES? Do you actually want to see Sonic hanging out with Total War's military generals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[source sega.co.jp]
Comments 41
Pretty sure that just sounds like the millions of gatcha mobile games that allow you to collect characters from different games.
Sounds like a corporate cashgrab waiting to happen.
Although I'm all for them reviving dormant Dreamcast-era properties. Give the ancient Genesis games a rest and actually port stuff from the Saturn/DC eras already.
🎶 Rolling around at the speed of the cloud, got places to go, gotta [SERVER ERROR. Please try again later.] 🎶
".. the company will be guided by the principle keywords of "global", "online", "community", and "IP utilization".
Maybe they should start with some actual gameplay ideas?
If this doesn't turn out to be a mobile game, it may actually be fun to see a Sonic game with a giant budget from Microsoft.
"6-Degrees-of-Nintendo-Life"
This reminds me of the Japanese only Dreamcast game, Segagaga. You work at Sega, and it's covered with cameos and references.
Poor Sonic just can't catch a break.
I just don't get why companies can't wait to turn their beloved ip into basically community mods lol. Oh yeah...money.
@Kaden It'd be fun to see a Sonic game with an actual budget
Everything about this is a reaming YUUUUCK.
If the increasing time and money cost of game development leads to the heat death of the industry then the new “metaverse” obsession is the gray goo apocalypse.
Well, it's better than the current death Crash Bandicoot is currently in.
So basically, another endeavour in the sphere that commendably seeks state-of-the-art technology but struggles to make it count in the borderline absence of matchingly state-of-the-art third party services?
Better than Nintendo or Sony at least
The last thing we need is a Neil druckman sonic game or sonic fan games getting DMCA’d
I get the feeling Sega is struggling to keep it’s family friendly market at the moment. They have Yakuza and Persona doing well, but it feels they aren’t sure what to with Sonic and their more traditional kids characters.
Maybe Nintendo should learn something from this, and also make a deal to get NSO on Azure. XBOX Live is by far the best online gaming platform on console. And XBOX Live is completely run on Azure hardware.
I like your idea of wasting money for better tech Sega but at least make some good Sonic games first.
Purenintendolifebox.com. Jokes aside, microsoft has been doing things really good from sometime, ill keep my eyes on this.
The statement from them means very little
"From the creators of Blast Processing™"
Given how Microsoft helped bring PSO2 outside Japan, I'd guess this deal is for more MMOs.
Cloudhog is still better than Werehog.
Dreamcast 2 is now confirmed.
The money they take make from me if they built a massive Valkyria Chronicles game…
We know SEGA has a big project that they want to release in 2026. I’d imagine this is involved with that.
I suppose SEGA had a lot of pleasure working with Microsoft with PSO2 and similarly, Microsoft wants to work on what they call “AAAA” games. Personally, I don’t find this business to be proven sustainable, if they’re looking at games with an even bigger scope than God of War, Cyberpunk or Avengers. Perhaps Cloud Computing can help with that, but given that an early example like Crackdown 3 still went into development hell, its fair to say that it’s still quite difficult to develop.
This sounds like the worst idea Sega has had since they picked SOJ’s Saturn over SOA’s idea for the Saturn. Instead Nintendo ended up with using that tech for the N64.
Imagine… an N64 with CD-ROMs.
Anyway this sounds really, really stupid.
Rumours of Microsoft buying Sega restarting in...
@TheRedComet Nah, Sega's worst idea was doing an Osborne with the Saturn before the Dreamcast was ready.
Back on topic, this is just nothing but corporate jargon for investors. Something to bump up the stock before the sales figures release.
@BloodyMurder sad WOAH noises
@basswitch Spot on!
Wait i don't understand... so what are we to expect here? What the hell is Sonic rolled up with Total War and Crazy Taxi supposed to look like?! Are there any comparable metaverse thingies in gaming that might give me an idea of what this is supposed to be?!
@Kaden remember they bought Bethedsa
Sounds like Sega is trying to create a GaaS monster success, but I kinda doubt that will happen.
Sega could use the boost. But I don’t think cash is their issue..
@Kaden yeah, still won’t help Sonic even with a big budget. This really feels like Sega just jumping into a cash grab mobile game.
This whole cloud gaming thing always sounded so unappealing, just one more way to take ownership away and turn gaming into netflix style streaming service crap
I know the future is in the cloud, but can we please slow it’s inevitable progress down just a bit?
So many of these projects sound like they're missing the point of what makes Smash Bros a fun crossover title.
I wish Sega would bring back an improved Holosseum for the Metaverse.
Atari is getting involved. Sega needs to, or miss the boat.
this is interesting indeed
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