Sega Sammy Holdings announced on Monday that it is considering forming a strategic partnership with Microsoft to produce big-budget games using Microsoft’s cloud gaming technology, fueling speculation that the move could presage a wider partnership.
Sega, located in Tokyo, is looking into creating global-reach titles on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, according to a stock exchange announcement. It did not say whether the partnership would include exclusivity for the titles or capital investment.
Sega’s stock soared 6% in morning trading.
The Xbox Game Pass, a cross-platform subscription service that includes Sega titles like the hit “Yakuza” series, is Microsoft’s own significant cloud gaming venture.
Cloud gaming eliminates the need for cumbersome gear, but it does necessitate a fast internet connection. Microsoft’s foray into the young market comes at a time when Xbox is often regarded as trailing Sony’s PlayStation in the console war.
“By working with Microsoft to anticipate such trends as they accelerate further in future, the goal is to optimise development processes and continue to bring high-quality experiences to players using Azure cloud technologies,” Sega said.
Microsoft’s bid for Sega, the publisher of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” has been rumoured for decades. Japan, the world’s third largest gaming market and a key industry innovator, continues to be a difficult spot for the Redmond, Washington-based company.
The two companies have a long history of collaboration, with Monday’s announcement following a slew of critically lauded recent Sega products, including the “Persona” and “Total War” series.
Sega, which abandoned its own console business after a string of flops, is a prolific maker of “pachinko” machines for gambling and has flagged its ambitions to widen the appeal of its video games.
