Currently Sega is considering launching a subscription service for video games that will allow clients to rent and play games like a Netflix service. This could go a long way in changing the nature of the gaming business, at least in Microsoft’s form, of subscribing to be able to play certain games.
The president of Sega, Shuji Utsumi, expressed his interest in subscription services in an interview with the BBC, stating they are "very interesting" and that the company is "evaluating some opportunities." He hinted at ongoing discussions about potential offerings that are yet to be disclosed: "We're thinking something—and discussing something—we cannot disclose right now.".
This could place Sega right alongside other existing services like Xbox Game pass and PlayStation Plus, where people pay monthly subscriptions to be able to access games as opposed to having to buy them.
The gaming industry has begun to witness a popularity of subscription models; key players such as Nintendo, EA, and Ubisoft all implemented a subscription model to their consoles and games. This proves that such platforms work with remarkable success overshadowing the conventional way of playing games.
The amount these services individually charge vary depending on the features and games made available. For example, Xbox Game Pass prices range from £6.99 to £14.99 a month, while PlayStation Plus ranges from £6.99 to £13.49 a month.
Overlays have raised worries over the consumers paying more as they subscribe to different services entrepreneurs. This sentiment was echoed by Rachel Howie, a gamer who streams on Twitch under the username DontRachQuit, who shared her mixed feelings about another subscription service: "We have so many subscriptions already that we find it very difficult to justify signing up for a new one".
Sophie Smart, Production Director at UK developer No More Robots, also commented on the nostalgia and potential market impact of Sega's move: "As someone whose first console was the Sega Mega Drive, what I'd love more than anything is to see Sega thriving and this feels like a step in a modern direction". However, she raised a concern about the exclusivity of Sega games if the company launches its own service: "If so, it could mean that consumers are shelling out more money across owning multiple subscription services.".
Shuji Utsumi also commented on Sega’s history and its plan. He highlighted the need to revitalize the brand on a global scale: "I want to make Sega really shiny again." Utsumi criticized the company's previous focus on domestic success and emphasized a more aggressive, global approach: Sega has been somehow losing confidence... But why? There are good RPGs at sega, lots of great IPs at Sega and it is a a really popular company. Well, here I consciously thought to myself, Not now is not the time to be tilting; I needed to be tilted.
While Sega ponders this monumental change in their approach towards this type of structure, they have planned and prepared towards a subscription-based model where the gaming community anxiously waits to see how their experience playing games and utilizing Sega’s system will change as a result of such a twist.
