SEGA Exec Responds Once Again To Idea Of Potential Xbox Acquisition

Guys, just leave Sonic alone lol

Sega does have some very strong IP's with a LOT of potential. However, if they don't do much with them and the games they do release 'disappoint' (especially from a Sales perspective), that puts more and more pressure on so the wolves come sniffing around.

If you consistently fail to realise the potential of those IP's, you can actually harm that 'potential' - those IP's become less appealing.

If Sega were in a very strong position, wolves wouldn't be sniffing around the door. If ABK had been in a Strong position, then MS wouldn't have been able to buy them with their 'massive' potential in their IP's too. They may have paid $70bn for a company 'worth' around $55bn at the time, but they had been worth more than $70bn based on 'share' prices. They offered above market value per share as share prices were falling, it meant shareholders could sell for more than they were currently worth...

Point is, if SEGA isn't as strong as it once was, with unrealised potential and failing to overturn downward trends, more wolves will come knocking and their 'value' drops. The key is to focus on realising the potential of their beloved IP's so they 'sell' in big numbers to put SEGA in a strong position and keep 'wolves' from the door...

@DonaldMcRonald if you followed the FTC case or read Phil’s email, his intent was to keep Sega completely multiplatform.

I don't think sega would sell for a price that makes sense for xbox. They don't really have anything "must have" for a console maker but they have enough to make them expensive. They have the legacy ip like Activision but none of the crazy successful titles.

There are better ways for xbox to spend money.

@DonaldMcRonald where has he said not to believe them? Plus things have changed because Activision/Blizzard/King fell into Microsoft’s lap.

When has Phil lied? Bethesda exclusives would be case by case and the game has to make sense for multiplatform? Which Phil did say to the regulators back before they acquired Bethesda

Phil said they lost the console war? Which Phil did back in 2017. If you watch his interview he has a really great answer for why he believes this.

Phil saying that he wants to get games in more hands? Phil has done this to, game pass is available on Xbox, Smartphones, PC, handhelds (ROG device, Steam Deck, and Oculus VR), Smart TV, and some steaming devices.

Phil is an actual gamer but also a businessman and has a family. Phil has to still make Xbox money, which from the FTC case he has done that.

I really hope that Microsoft buys Sega with the intent that Sega would run mostly independent, which Microsoft has with some of there acquisitions that isn’t gaming.

1) I doubt MS would be able to get this by regulators so soon after the Activision-Blizzard acquisition.
2) I don't think Sega is all that interested and instead are expanding themselves. (Ex. Rovio)
3) I do like some of Sega's IPs but a lot of them need a lot of work for them to be more popular.

Poeple here says enough acquisitions....
But from my analysis to what xbox may want...i say they need to buy so much more

You ganna say oh are you crazy!!!

No im just a guy who have good eye looking at thinks

Think about it with games like Alan wake 2 which is a GOTY materiel and wast on 150 top sold games on xbox alot of games may think about skipping xbox in the future if they arent paid to be on gamepass because most people wait games till they come to GP or are busy playing GP games,you will say "oh no im scared"

Dont worry budy this is exactly why Microsoft is going into a aquisition spree with over 30 studios under their belt its to achieve a time were they can throw a game from inside studios each month then back it up with 3rd party games and 3rd party games published by xbox

In short they want to go more like netflix where they create their own thing and keep subs busy instrmead of relying on 3rd party publisher and to acheive so they need lot of studios (more than 40 if you ask me)

@DonaldMcRonald they need the talented developers too.

The IP’s help with gamepass.

Remember they’ve already lost the console war. You must be a most of the time PlayStation gamer, console sales don’t matter. It really is hard to wrap your head around but subscribers is the main goal.

Microsoft needs Xbox to keep cheap console customers in the Xbox ecosystem.

What Microsoft is doing is the only way for them to remain in the gaming business with there ecosystem and software, it keeps them relevant.

You can change it up however you want but Sony was and is doing the same thing but in a different way. Sony was paying for exclusives while still being profitable, Microsoft can’t do that, and it fits in with Phil’s reasoning (fact) about the lost to the console wars

@TakeItEasy It was the top 150 games for engagement in October that Alan Wake 2 wasn't in, not sales. A month which it was out for precisely four days of. Also to note it wasn't in the top 150 games on PlayStation for the same metric too though so I guess they will need to skip that too then.

I just want Xbox to start making/getting exclusive Japanese games again.

Microsoft is clearly weak in the Japanese game. If they buy Sega and let Sega take the initiative, I am in favor of a takeover.
If Sega's game lineup is included in Game Pass, it will make up for what the Xbox lacks.

@BAMozzy what are you on about, Sega owns several successful large IPs: Sonic, Persona, SMT, Yakuza, Bayonetta, Football Manager, Total War, Hatsune Miku, PSO2 etc

Not to mention the dormant high potential stuff like Virtua Fighter, Crazy Taxi or JSR and the buttload of classics

For a while Nintendo tried to rebuild its reputation as a serious gaming platform by having Bayonetta, a Sega IP, centerfold.

Sega is way bigger than what people think because their mind focuses instantly on Sonic

I couldn't give a rat's @ss about ABK, but SEGA? Now that would actually be an amazing acquisition.

@Carck And games like Persona, Yakuza, Bayonetta etc are not usually 'big' sellers with 'mass' appeal. You never see these games as being in the best selling games list.

As critically well received as they maybe, as popular amongst the 'niche' market they occupy they are, they are not going to sell 20m+ games across all platforms. Games like Sonic, Virtual Fighter, Crazy Taxi, JSR and many others was that they had more mass market appeal. Not saying those other games aren't extremely popular in Japan but not as popular in the rest of the world.

Sega also has many other businesses outside of just Game development - hotels, golf courses etc too which also impacts on SEGA as a 'strong' company. If they aren't making as much 'money' across all their business interests, It does affect their Market position and others will come sniffing. They may sell off their Hospitality section to focus more on Gaming if they believe that is the 'most' profitable way to go for example.

Its not just about their Gaming - but SEGA as a whole company and not all parts being as 'successful' as they could be to be in a position of Strength. If a Company is strong and high profitability, it is unlikely to want to sell or would take a massive offer to tempt, if its struggling and doesn't have the money coming in they 'need' to grow, you'll see them make cut-backs or 'sell' parts of their business - SEGA have sold off some parts before - as have Sony (like their PC Vaio business) to keep their other more profitable businesses going...

@DonaldMcRonald unfortunately I can see them going for more as that list helps Microsoft in key areas like the US/EU but does nothing to move the needle in Asia so I expect that's the next push.

Reasons why Microsoft might benefit SEGA if they were acquired by them...

Microsoft is more willing to do multiplatform games than Nintendo or Sony, which will probably apply the most to Sonic (and Persona, Yakuza, VF?)

SEGA has always had a problem with the money when it comes to gaming and was one of the main reasons they called it quits with hardware. Microsoft as their bank helps with that.

Before they went 3rd party, SEGA took a lot of risks in the kinds of games they made. Out of the big three, Microsoft is the one who is also willing to take risks releasing different kinds of games.

I miss the Sega of 20+ years ago, before it became a shadow of it's former self. Somebody like Microsoft could be the boost it needs to try and grab some of that former gaming glory. Heck it was Xbox that was first in line in supporting Sega when they dropped the Dreamcast.