Sega and the possibility of launching retro consoles

14 Feb Sega and the possibility of launching retro consoles

Sega is not going to exploit nostalgia. So, if you were dreaming of a Saturn Mini or Dreamcast Mini, unfortunately, those dreams of reliving 1994 and 1998, respectively, will not come true. Although the company found success with the Mini versions of the Genesis, its focus now is on modern projects.

In an interview, Shuji Utsumi, CEO of Sega America and Europe, was clear: “I’m not going down the Mini path. It’s not my style. I want to embrace modern gamers.” He also added: “We are not a retro company. We appreciate our heritage, but we aim to offer something new. We don’t want to become history.”

While more Mini consoles are ruled out, Sega has big plans to revive iconic franchises with a fresh approach. Intellectual properties such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and Virtua Fighter are in development, targeting both nostalgic fans and new players.

But Sega isn’t stopping there. Its current franchises like Sonic, Persona, and Yakuza continue growing year after year. Meanwhile, teams like Creative Assembly are working on new Total War games and the highly anticipated sequel to Alien: Isolation. Additionally, Sports Interactive keeps dominating with the ever-popular Football Manager. The Sonic movie franchise has also been a surprise success, which will likely shape the company’s future.

On another note, Utsumi hinted that Sega is exploring the possibility of launching its own video game subscription service. This would put it in direct competition with platforms like EA Play, Xbox Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus, aiming to offer a modern and competitive gaming experience.