Something to look forward to: The streaming revolution has hit the gaming industry well and truly. Encouraged by major players like Microsoft and Sony, other companies are now looking to make a dent in the market, too. The latest to join the fray may be Sega.
In a recent chat with the BBC, Sega's newly appointed president Shuji Utsumi indicated that the company is exploring a Netflix-esque subscription model for its titles. He stated that subscription services are interesting to Sega, and the company is evaluating opportunities that such a model would provide.
While he did not provide specific details, Utsumi made it clear that some kind of streaming gaming service is under consideration.
The move makes sense from a business perspective. With the likes of Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus already dominating the market, Sega is likely realizing that its best shot at competing is by throwing its own hat into the ring with a dedicated service for its iconic games and franchises.
Sega earlier this month also removed over 60 of its classic games from digital storefronts across PC and console platforms, which left many scratching their heads. Hopefully, those titles will make a comeback through this subscription service if and when it arrives.
That said, there are also concerns brewing that a Sega streaming platform could just end up fragmenting the market even further and forcing gamers to shell out for yet another monthly subscription on top of everything else. Some industry insiders warned the BBC that it could even lead to Sega pulling its games from existing services to make its own platform more enticing.
Then again, for the legions of die-hard Sega fans out there, having a one-stop subscription shop for all their favorite Sonic, Yakuza, and other classic titles could be a dream come true.
Beyond teasing this new subscription, Utsumi suggested that the legendary gaming brand may have overemphasized cost-cutting and lost its way when he took the helm, adding that he's aiming to restore some of that old "rock and roll mentality."
He even teased that the company is hard at work on "a quite challenging, quite exciting" new Sonic game, though he didn't reveal whether it'll be a follow-up to the beloved Sonic Adventure series or something new entirely.
Sega hints at Netflix-style gaming subscription, new Sonic game
