Sega has said it’s not interested in acquisition talks after news emerged that it has been a target for Microsoft in recent years.
Documents published last week as part of theXboxmaker’s legal battle with the US Federal Trade Commission revealed that in November 2020, Xbox bossPhil Spencerrequested approval fromMicrosoft’s CEO toapproach Sega Sammy about buying its gaming studios.
Spencer described Sonic firmSegaas Xbox’s “most attractive next acquisition target due to its globalPCcatalog, presence on mobile in Asia, and global brand affinity on console through its classic IP”.
Following the news, this week Sega Sammy’s shares rose to their highest since 2007.
Asked if the company is open to acquisition talks, Sega co-chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi toldBloomberg: “No, not now.” He declined to say if Microsoft had made a formal approach.
Sega has a close relationship with Microsoft. ItsCreative Assemblystudio worked on Xbox titlesHaloWars 2 andAge of Empires 4, and in 2021 the Japanese companyannounced a strategic alliancewhich will see it develop games using the US firm’s Azure cloud platform.
“We are very close with Microsoft and have a great relationship with its management team,” Utsumi said. “Microsoft particularly has a high regard for us. Xbox’s Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are really serious about values that video game fans emphasise.”
Further reading
On several occasions, Microsoft gaming boss Spencer has publicly expressed a desire to purchase an Asian game developer,“in particular a Japanese studio”.
Final Fantasy publisherSquare Enix has also been considered as an acquisition target, legal filings revealed this week.
