Summary
In response to rumors surrounding the acquisition ofSega, Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi denied that the company was looking for a buyer, and shut down any speculation that Microsoft was set to acquire them. Utsumi then added that Sega was instead focused on bringing its IPs to other platforms, as well asbuying out companies on its own such as Rovio.
Rumors have long circulated about Microsoft acquiringSega, and some discussions sprang up as far back as the early 2000s. At the time, some rumors fluttered about the original Xbox’s compatibility with Dreamcast games after the latter console’s demise. Though the talks fell through, Sega eventually became the third-party developer it is today, with plenty of its titles on the Xbox family of systems and Xbox Game Pass, such as theLike A DragonandPersonaseries. While both companies have been amicable to one another over the years, Sega has long prided itself on being a major developer and IP owner.
ACNBC interview that was reported by Dexertofurther emphasized Sega’s disinterest in being bought out by Microsoft anytime soon. Utsumi said that following the success of bothSonic the Hedgehogmovies at the box office, Sega is instead looking towards bringing more of its properties to different platforms and reaching more audiences. The news came nearly a month afterMicrosoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzardfor $68.7 billion. The buyout concluded a long saga that saw the deal scrutinized by global regulators, with Microsoft spinning off the streaming distribution rights to Ubisoft in the UK as part of the deal.
Many companies are interested. We feel honored. We have attractive IPs and potentials. Companies owned by the owner. A strong owner. I don’t think that kind of transaction is going to happen.
In June 2023, during the Activision buyout litigation, some leaked FTC internal documents pointed towardsMicrosoft potentially buying Sega and Bungieas far back as 2020. These documents contained contents from an email that Xbox lead Phil Spencer sent to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood. While Bungie ended up being acquired by Sony for $3.6 billion in July 2022, Sega still maintained its independence and continued to bring games to the market.
With titlessuch asLike A Dragon: Infinite WealthandPersona 3 Reloadon the docket for 2024, and the impendingSonic the Hedgehog 3movie, the company and its properties are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. But with no plans for being bought out in the foreseeable future, it remains to be seen which companies will fall under Sega’s banner instead.
