There are many gaming companies out there that have joined hands with blockchain technology as a means of enhancing experiences for many players, but Sega is not (and likely will not be) one of them.
Sega Doesn’t Think Much of Blockchain
Sega, as we all know, is a major competitor to Nintendo and has produced some of the world’s most recognized titles such as the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, “Golden Axe,” and many others. In several ways, Sega has been ahead of its time and has introduced us to playable characters and stories that much of the population (particularly younger people) still enjoy talking about today.
However, in a recent interview, the company’s co-COO Shuji Utsumi said he doesn’t know what blockchain is good for, and it’s not likely the company will ever utilize the technology or the services that come with it in future product releases. He stated:
We are trying to figure out what is the best way to entertain the audience. [We are] evaluating, searching, [and] learning.
To be fair, the company is not shutting the door completely on blockchain. It even put out a statement saying that it has some potential. However, there are some issues with it given that several players have said they do not care for the play-to-earn outlets that other gaming companies have offered, and Sega clearly doesn’t want to diminish its returns by disappointing its players. Utsumi said:
We are very careful because we understand that especially western gamers are not big fans of our web3 initiative.
At the time of writing, Sega is announcing the introduction of what it’s calling a “super game,” which will be brought to the public in the year 2026. There are very few details available about the product, though according to the company, the release is going to be unlike anything any gamer has ever seen or experienced before.
A Huge Change of Pace?
However, things are not fully set in stone, and Sega is still not sure if blockchain will be a valid part of the so-called “super game” it plans to establish. This marks a whole change of pace for the game company, as back in 2022, Utsumi said Sega was eagerly “focusing on new areas such as [the] metaverse and web3.” He commented:
Sega has invested in several web3 and metaverse startups as part of its open innovation efforts. Through these companies, we are accumulating various know-how, and we are researching every day what we can achieve by combining web3 technology and Sega’s resources, and what kind of business we can build.
Many analyst companies – such as Gartner – feel Sega would be making a mistake by turning its back on blockchain entirely, as the firm still labels gaming as a top arena for metaverses.
