Sega and Microsoft have announced a massive “strategic alliance” that will focus on developing new games and technology around cloud gaming, specifically Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.
According to a press release the alliance is going to form a key part of Sega’s mid to long-term strategy, and will allow the company to move forward with an initiative called “Super Game,” which would focus on creating innovative games with four different key focuses; “Global”, “Online”, “Community” and “IP utilization”.
In a prepared statement Yukio Sugion, President and COO of Sega said
“By considering a strategic partnership with Microsoft, we seek to further advance our game development so that our titles can be enjoyed by fans all over the world; in this regard, we aim to build an alliance that utilizes both SEGA’s powerful game development capabilities and Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology and development environment.”
While there’s a lot of buzzwords thrown around, it’s not exactly clear what would make a “Super Game,” what it is. Still, Microsoft has been aggressively licensing its Azure technology in recent years, even forming a partnership with Sony in 2019 that would see PlayStation using Azure data centers for cloud gaming and streaming services. Earlier this year Microsoft also announced that it plans to bring streaming services, like Xbox Game Pass, to internet-connected TVs, meaning players wouldn’t need to own an Xbox or gaming PC in order to play Microsoft titles.
Sarah Bond, CVP at Microsoft also commented on the news by saying,
“SEGA has played such an iconic role in the gaming industry and has been a tremendous partner over the years. We look forward to working together as they explore new ways to create unique gaming experiences for the future using Microsoft cloud technologies. Together we will reimagine how games get built, hosted, and operated, with a goal of adding more value to players and SEGA alike.”
Sega has been building up to something big over recent years, and the first mention of a “Super Game” was in a presentation earlier this year, as reported by VGC. The company has also put a huge emphasis on making its existing IPs into “global brands,” which falls in line with the strategy behind its new partnership with Microsoft.
