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Sega Japan x Microsoft: Something interesting is going on

Discussion in 'General Sega Discussion' started by 360, Feb 25, 2018.

  1. 360

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    Sonic Neon
    Via Sega's Twitter here and ResetERA here.

    Well this is super interesting. Sega visited Microsoft's head office by the looks of it for something presumably important that they're now making some noise about. Can't fathom what this could be though there are flashbacks to the potential Sega buy-out that happened around 2002/3 that ended up evolving in to a huge 11-game deal for multiple Sega exclusives on the Xbox. So what could this be? Also interesting are the Sonic references. You'll notice Sonic Generations' Green Hill Zone playing on the television in the background in one of those tweets (final image above). So some kind of deal/collaboration that could be related to Sonic here? Or just Sonic references because he's the symbol of Sega and this is something else?

    No idea on this one guys though I'll be following this with a keen eye and look forward to whatever they're going to announce. Thoughts?
     
  2. JaxTH

    JaxTH

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    Should probably rename this Sega Japan x Microsoft.

    Sega already did Halo Wars 2 in 2016 and are doing Age of Empires IV this year.

    I assumed it was just another thing like that based on the topic title.
     
  3. 360

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    Done! Yeah you're right dude, that is a better and more accurate title given that this is Sega Japan - and not a game from Sega West.

    As for what this could be, I've read through the speculation threads on both ResetERA and NeoGAF and everyone is suggesting everything from a potential buy-out of Sega, to legacy Sega support on Xbox, to Sega games coming to Xbox gamepass, to MS funding some Sega games, to absolutely nothing at all - and that this is just a friendly visit as the companies have a long history together and are on good terms. My opinion is that something must be going on as Sega wouldn't be hyping it up if it was nothing. My best guess would be MS funding some Sega games to be Xbox exclusive.

    Either that or is it just nothing and just a friendly visit as something as serious as a buy-out would be kept secret and not promoted on Twitter. Very much looking forward to seeing more news on this.
     
  4. JaxTH

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    I'll have to go with "Microsoft funding something".

    A buyout is preposterous, legacy support on Xbox One is something Sega has been doing since day one even with games that were de-listed since before the Xbox One was even announced, and there are probably already games on Xbox Games Pass though I'm not sure on that.
     
  5. Aesculapius Piranha

    Aesculapius Piranha

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    [​IMG]

    Kidding, but if it is less than pic related color me less than enthusiastic.
     
  6. 360

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    Sonic Neon
    Excellent points - you're quite well-versed on the machinations of the gaming industry so appreciate your input man.

    Whilst a potential Sega Sammy buy-out is somewhat ridiculous, it is sourced in some sense of realism because of all those quite recent and strong rumours that MS were considering a very expensive "mega" buy-out of a big games publisher with names like EA being thrown around - in response to Sony annihilating them this generation. So people are just putting two and two together. Sega Sammy is worth around 2 billion dollars which is affordable to MS. Thinking about it I think if it were to happen it'd be far more likely that Sammy sells off Sega as opposed to MS buying Sega Sammy Holdings. Sega has been a thorn in Sammy's side since the merger. Sega until only very recently with their recent resurgence has continually lost money and Sammy's enormous pachinko money has been spent on keeping a failing Sega games business afloat for going on 15 years now.

    What I mean is that Sammy could be interested in selling off the Sega component at some point particularly if they'd profit from it. It's probably unlikely - as I've read Sammy are interested in maintaining Sega Sammy as a unit - but it is possible. Then you have the precedent that at one point MS came extremely close to buying Sega outright in the post-Dreamcast days so it's not that out there to see them showing interest again particularly with the recent MS rumours on a big acquisition coming up. That said - all of this is probably a null point. No company on the planet is going to hype up a buy-out on Twitter. Shit like that is serious business and would be kept secret until announcement barring any leaks. So ultimately this is probably some kind of game funding thing or a partnership - like Sega games coming exclusively to Xbox gamepass or something like that. That's something Sega would happily hype up on Twitter as it benefits both parties.

    Anyway hopefully the mystery will be resolved soon enough. I'm still going with exclusive Sega games on Xbox with MS funding a game or two - or something gamepass related.

    Everyone's been clamouring for MS to team up with Sega on a console for decades. It's one of those dream scenarios that everyone would love to see happen from as far back as when the original Xbox was going to have Dreamcast compatibility. I'd say something of that magnitude is probably too out there - even if it'd be something fans would love.
     
  7. Aerosol

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    I heard whispers of Vanquish 2 somewhere.
     
  8. Aesculapius Piranha

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    I don't think it will happen at all, so maybe I should just say SoJ and M$ meeting up is something I am less than enthusiastic about.
     
  9. Jason

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    Best, easiest scenario is getting the Original Xbox exclusives ported to XB1 and Windows 10.
     
  10. Turbohog

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    Hey, I'd be pumped if that happened since we'd finally get Jet Set Radio Future on PC.
     
  11. 360

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    Sonic Neon
    Well, Sega's main Twitter thread about this is currently getting overwhelmed with Jet Set Radio Future requests so there's that. They must be hearing the fans there.

    At the moment I'm leaning towards this being an innocent trip without much significance from seeing Sega Japan's other posts about it. There's more posts about "Sonic" playing Sonic Mania and Forces with MS Japan's mascot for example (check Sega's Twitter). So either MS and Sega Japan are teaming up for something big and this is the start of it - or it's just a friendly PR stunt that won't lead to an announcement.

    Just thought I'd add this in here to not get everyone's hopes up. That said I'll still keep an eye on this and hope a good announcement eventually transpires here.
     
  12. 360

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    Yeah I'm suddenly seeing rumblings and echoes of this too, rumoured to be a high-profile Xbox exclusive from Sega/Platinum. Could be related?
     
  13. JaxTH

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    If Platinum is involved maybe Microsoft feels a bit salty that they turned down funding Bayonetta 2 (Sony did as well).

    From what I remember Bayonetta was supposed to be exclusive to Xbox before Sega told them to put it on PS3 as well.

    I mean, the first Bayonetta did get an exclusive demo for the 360 while the PS3 demo was just the same thing as the E3 2009 360 demo which means that Platinum went out of their way to make another demo just for 360.

    Anyway, never played Vanquish outside of it's demo, but I do remember it having pre-order DLC that never came out.

    Still looking forward to whatever this might be.
     
  14. Covarr

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    After what happened with Scalebound, it'd be kind of odd for them to attempt an exclusivity deal like that again.
     
  15. 360

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    Interesting insight regarding Platinum there. And yeah same here man, looking forward to this hopefully leading to something.

    Reasonable speculation is pointing to a potential MS exclusive and Vanquish 2 would absolutely make sense here. Both ResetERA and NeoGAF are both shouting "They're going to buy Sega" from the rooftops in the midst of the "Sega Xbox" and "Dreamcast 2" joke posts so neither are proving helpful. Retro's pretty much the only place having a sensible discussion about this. NeoGAF just spawned the thread Should Microsoft buy Sega to give you an idea of where the conversation is. Sega are not going to be hyping up a buyout on Twitter of all places. This, if anything, is just a small tease for a Sega exclusive game, at most and at best. Or an exclusive partnership for gamepass. Or just friendly PR.

    Well, it might not actually be Vanquish 2. That's just a recent rumour that came out and people are merging both incidents together. That said Vanquish has a massive cult following and would be an awesome get for MS, their troubles with Scalebound notwithstanding. I do see your point, regarding potential bad blood - so this could be something else, perhaps of greater magnitude.

    Glad we have a sensible thread here. Going to keep an eye on this as Sega remain endlessly fascinating to me. Hope the mystery is resolved soon.
     
  16. 360

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    Sonic Neon
    So some news. Microsoft announced "Inside Xbox" coming on March 10 which is a monthly Xbox show presumably similar to Nintendo's directs. So if imminent Sega-related news is coming it might be there.

    Speculation is running rampant on ResetERA about this Sega and Microsoft thing and everyone still thinks a buy-out is likely. Regarding the realism of that - it's not as absurd as you'd think. Microsoft were recently rumoured to be "considering" buying various super expensive publishing powerhouses like EA and the background to that is that they have a ridiculous cash reserve (~130 billion dollars) that they have to either spend on acquisitions this year or pay-out in dividends. So the speculation is that they're going to make some acquisitions hence why them buying Sega could be a possibility. EA is valued at something like 50 billion dollars and according to Polygon Microsoft were seriously considering it. Sega Sammy is valued at around 4 billion - or even less for just Sega's games division - which would be a comparative bargain and Microsoft have shown interest in Sega before. Granted the Sega of 2002 complete with their games output that Microsoft were interested in is not the Sega of 2018. But the point I'm trying to make is - it's possible.

    So Inside Xbox is the next instance we may hear more. Announcements are scheduled for then including news about Microsoft's gamepass service. Guessing more realistically some kind of partnership with Sega? Sega Forever on gamepass? Or perhaps some exclusive games like in the original Xbox days? We'll know soon. Failing that it's E3.
     
  17. JaxTH

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    Inside Xbox was Microsoft's weekly show that appeared on the 360 dashboard. They got rid of a little bit after or before One came out.

    Once again the buyout stuff is annoying because MS has enough money to buy Nintendo, EA, Valve, Sega, Capcom, etc.

    Also I honestly can't ever recall an American company buying out a Japanese one. For example, Atlus. I don't remember any western names on that list of bids. If I remember correctly there are some rules in place preventing that or something. Could be wrong though.
     
  18. Flygon

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    Remember, SEGA was American owned until the early 80s! :v:
     
  19. Overlord

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    It's not a buyout. I have no idea why people are dreaming that up.

    It'll most likely be an Xbone exclusive of something.
     
  20. 360

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    You are probably right guys - an outright buy-out of Sega is incredibly unlikely. Possible but very unlikely. I just threw that post out there because MS having to spend those cash reserves imminently on acquisitions is a very real thing and an actual business issue. Yes MS have always had ridiculous cash reserves enabling them to buy almost anyone - but this is the first time they're forced to spend it. It's a little complicated but basically due to taxation laws they either have to spend it on acquisitions this year or lose some of the money to dividends to shareholders. By the end of the year. So most in the business sphere are speculating they're going to buy someone - and someone big. Hence all the names recently coming up like EA and now Sega.

    In other news Capcom has been spotted promoting a visit to MS Japan in the same way Sega did. It raises the question - what the fuck is going on here? Many speculate it's something to do with MS' forthcoming announcements at E3 or possibly some kind of megaton announcement for gamepass. But it is highly unusual, that back to back, monolith Japanese publishers are visiting MS in Japan and also promoting it publicly. This is the first time I've ever seen this happen. Companies visiting each other is commonplace, but also marketing and promoting the visits? At a guess MS is making a concerted effort to court and partner with more Japanese publishers for an exclusive or two - which to be fair is realistic and probably accurate because they have been trying so for the entire generation. Particularly as of late.

    Strikes me as odd however that Sega are like "we just went to see MS!" and like a week later Capcom's doing the same. Who's next? Square Enix?