While this kind of partnership isn't as shocking as one with Nintendo might be, SEGA will be forming a "strategic alliance" with its once-competitor Microsoft. The two companies will be teaming up in order for SEGA to explore creating "large-scale, global games" in the future, utilizing Microsoft's Azure cloud technology. This also includes what SEGA refers to as "Super Game". which is a new initiative all about releasing content that focuses on four main tenents: global, online, community, and IP utilization.

We are very pleased to announce today that we are considering a strategic alliance with Microsoft to help develop SEGA's new “Super Game” initiative as well as build a next-generation game development environment. 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.

According to a briefing from SEGA that took place in May 2021, one of these "Super Games" will be a key strategy for them, and is set to be released within the next five years. That same presentation also showed that SEGA believes in expanding older intellectual properties, by making reboots, remakes, and remasters of popular franchises.

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.

Source

 

[MikaDubbz]

I really feel like Microsoft and SEGA missed out on a potentially mutually beneficent partnership when they nearly formed one back during the Xbox's inception. As you may know, Microsoft nearly worked out a deal with SEGA for the first Xbox to be backwards compatible with Dreamcast games, but because a deal couldn't be worked out in regards to Dreamcast games still retaining online functionality, the deal fell through.

Now though, I can't help but wonder about that missed timeline, imagine if the Series X wasn't just backwards compatible through the OG Xbox, but the Dreamcast as well, and maybe even potentially the Saturn and SEGA CD. That would truly have been nuts.

Furthermore, the Xbox has always struggled in Japan, and I think a large reason for that is brand recognition, Japanese tend to want to stick with Japanese companies, so if they had made that deal, maybe they could have gone by the SEGA Xbox only in Japan to help sell more units in that region. Plus it would appease a lot of SEGA fans that wish the company still made consoles. Only major negative is that SEGA games would probably have become exclusive to Xbox instead of going multiplatform.

 

[AlexMCS]

I wonder when will the big companies figure out that cloud gaming does not work universally as of now.
It's only feasible for certain games, where input delay does not matter much.
There is a currently unbeatable enemy called latency. Try and beat it first.

Frame prediction and pre-calculation can only get us so far.

 

[ZeroFX]

sega and ms are always doing partnerships, but cloud partnership... ugh, trash, scrap that sega go back to your arcades in akiba.

 

[DoctorDizzyspin]

Really not a fan of cloud based games... I don't really think this will turn out well. Ah well, I guess we'll wait and see.

 

[Dr_Faustus]

Yeah because Google Stadia is doing so well.

Im sorry but Who?

 

[ChibiMofo]

Only the collective compute power of hundreds of servers can handle the rumored Sonic open-world game.


Back when the Dreamcast was a thing.

LOL! Sega might have though the Dreamcast was competitive with OG Xbox. No one else did. And does no one remember the alliance Sega and MSFT announced back then? If anything, Sega and MSFT have been partners in the past 20 years, including once the Xbox shipped.

As for cloud gaming, I know you (fellow) pirates don't like it, but it is absolutely the future. Why would you not tie a large part or even the entire new AAA game you are working on to something that cannot be pirated?

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Since using 5G as my primary broadband, I am starting to become a believer of Cloud Gaming lol.

I am probably lucky that the mast is on top of the opposite building, but extremely low latency and ultra fast speed am super happy. Around 20 Ping on LOL, and no issues livestreaming etc.

Am gonna try stadia with this. See how it is.

 

[Dud]

Gross.

 

[KingVamp]

If the worse happens with cloud gaming, guess I'm Just retro and good free to play gaming from now on.

 

[Bedel]

Yeah because Google Stadia is doing so well.

No. Maybe because xbox xcloud is doing amazing. Seems more relevant to the matter.

 

[FAST6191]

I wonder when will the big companies figure out that cloud gaming does not work universally as of now.
It's only feasible for certain games, where input delay does not matter much.
There is a currently unbeatable enemy called latency. Try and beat it first.

Frame prediction and pre-calculation can only get us so far.

Sticking a server in your local city/cabinet on the other hand sorts that. Bit more expensive up front but nothing out of the range of most of Microsoft's acquisitions of late.

 

[Jayro]

Eew, more cloud streaming. :/

 

[BraveDragonWolf]

Neptune and Vert teaming up like that, eh?

(I'm sorry for those who don't get it and don't follow...)

 

[Obveron]

Many of you seem to mixing up Azure cloud compute services with xcloud streaming. Sega making use of the Azure cloud may have more to do with online services, and cloud compute enhancing various components of their games.

 

[pedro702]

Only the collective compute power of hundreds of servers can handle the rumored Sonic open-world game.


Back when the Dreamcast was a thing.

dreamcast failled way before xbox appeared

dreamcast was descontinued on 31 of march of 2001

original xbox was released in november 15 of 2001

so nope they werent even competitors.

 

[Coto]

I'm pretty sure both companies can handle whatever they have in mind pretty well. Here's hoping success for both of 'em.

 

[Deleted member 546149]

Good, cloud gaming is the future

A lot of people seem to disagree with me....
Uh
That's alright

 

[eyeliner]

Sanic MMORPG Advance Halo Estrogen

Coming to a Computer near your wallet.

 

[AlanJohn]

dreamcast failled way before xbox appeared

dreamcast was descontinued on 31 of march of 2001

original xbox was released in november 15 of 2001

so nope they werent even competitors.

Yep, I've checked the info and you're right. I guess @Chary has some explaining to do!

 

[CoolMe]

I don't care about the Cloud Streaming stuff, but i would love to see Sega IPs new&old brought to the Xbox, just like the old days with the original Xbox, bring back Jet Set Radio/Sega GT! etc.