After Reports Of Potential Acquisition By Microsoft, Sega Responds That Microsoft Holds Strong Relationship With The Publisher

To everyone’s knowledge at this point, Microsoft is still in a bloody-knuckled battle in the courts to acquire Activision Blizzard. And amongst the hearings against the FTC this week for the aforementioned deal, many new reports that surfaced from the hearing is of other acquisition plans that was revealed in submitted evidence. In that, Microsoft has a list of over 100 different potential candidates to engage in a complete acquisition deal.

One of the most surprising came from this Wednesday which revealed Microsoft was eyeing Japanese publisher Square Enix. It was understood that the purchase was arranged to bolster Microsoft’s xCloud initiative. Additionally, it was also unveiled through other published information that Sega or Bungie was also good contenders for a deal too.

When speaking to Bloomberg Japan, Sega vice president Shu Utsumi shared that the publisher is not interested in an acquisition right now. Responding with “no, not now”. However, what is a larger surprise is how much that Utsumi responded speaking greatly of Microsoft. He expressed both Phil Spencer & Sarah Bond of Microsoft “value gamer values and appreciate our [Sega’s] creativity”.

“The management position is to do it in-house and as SEGA SAMMY,” Utsumi pressed on Sega’s focus to remain independent. Even more, he also injected that the relationship with Microsoft remains strong over the past few year. And even in comparison to the likes of Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo too, Xbox regards Sega in a ‘higher elevation’ than the competition, Bloomberg words.

This past June has been a record time for Sega property coming to Xbox. At the most recent Xbox Games Showcase – four titles were presented. Those being Persona 3 Reload, Persona 5 Tactica, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. At least half of these slated titles will also launch for Xbox Game Pass.

What is your impression from Sega’s response to the Xbox acquisition reports?

Source: Bloomberg Japan