Sega and Microsoft are two of the biggest names in the games industry, and a deal has been announced for the pair to join forces. However, it’s not a buyout but a collaboration relating to cloud gaming.
There’s no denying the impact that Sega and Microsoft have had on the world of gaming but the two big brands believe there’s a lot more to come. Their partnership focuses on the future of gaming, and they hope that working together instead of against each other will produce far better results.
A Predictable Partnership?
For many years Sega and Microsoft have been fierce rivals in the gaming industry, so a collaboration between the two may seem somewhat out of the blue.
However, there have been whispers in the market for years about a possible linkup, despite the intense rivalry. Although the idea of competitors aligning may seem strange to some, it’s more common in the Japanese market. Japanese firms focus on building long-term working relationships which are to the benefit of both parties, so this collaboration may be something that could lead to a longer-term partnership.
According to City Index market analysis, the collaboration is a good move with both companies enjoying a hike in their share price.
Microsoft shares were at 294.85 on 8 October, but they are trading at 335.14, 13.66% higher a month later. The same trend is seen with Sega, hiking up from 1,577 to 1,838 JPY, a rise of 16.55%. The tech sector has seen an overall upward move in the last month, but both companies have posted rises above average for the industry.
What to Expect
This isn’t the first time that Microsoft has linked up with a competitor. Sony made a deal with Microsoft two years ago.
But what can fans expect from the linkup between Microsoft and Sega?
Taking inspiration from Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement about a potential metaverse, Sega is hoping to roll out something special of their own. Using the cutting edge Azure cloud tech from Microsoft, Sega plans to develop what they’re calling a “super game”.
Their press release hasn’t provided explicit details of how the super game will look, but Sega has confirmed they’re hoping to bring back fan favourites. This could mean games that include Super Monkey Balls, Sonic and Persona, as well as top sellers Total War and Football Manager. Games previously sent into retirement, such as Virtua Fighter and Crazy Taxi, could also be revived, although it’s not yet evident in what form.
It will be a while before the market sees the results of the collaboration between these two giants, but Sega is looking for more than just a subtle tweak. Azure has enormous functionality, with everything from cloud storage through to AI machine learning and blockchain and information transfer. No one knows yet what the new Sega super game will look like or what aspects of Azure Sega will be looking to utilise, but it’s sure to be a release that will get fans talking and potentially even reshape the future of gaming. We can’t wait.
