390°

Sega Exploring Strategic Partnership With Microsoft to Produce Games in Azure-Based Dev Environment

Sega announced that it's exploring a strategic partnership with Microsoft focusing on the use of the Azure cloud platform.

Sonyslave31278d ago

So it has begun 😆😆😆 i dont care have both systems.

blackblades1277d ago

This guy thinks Sega and Xbox is joining forces lol. Its Sega and MS difference do the reading.

ColtPSSX1277d ago Show
Lightning771277d ago

They are joining forces, you should try reading.

Darkborn1277d ago

Sony has a deal to use the Azure servers. Is Microsoft buying Sony?

darthv721277d ago (Edited 1277d ago )

Ehh... it could lead to something like that down the road. I think there were some on here saying that a US company cant acquire a JP one but if a partnership exists first, and for a period of time... then maybe an acquisition could be allowed under JP law. It would have to be something both parties agree to. Sega would have to have been partners for a certain amount of time and then accept an offer to be acquired by MS (if that were the case).

For now its just a pretty straightforward partnership of Sega using MS tech to host and help produce some new stuff they have had ideas about. I wouldnt read any more into it than that. Lets wait and see how things unfold over the next year or two.

CrimsonWing691277d ago

Yea, it goes to show that some people don’t realize MS does more than just Xbox.

FanboysKiller1277d ago

It's microsoft, they wouldn't jump the guns right after it.

jukins1277d ago

Sony actually doesnt have a deal. The companies signed a memorandum to explore the possibilities back in 2019 basically what sega and microsft are doing now exploring possibilities

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1277d ago
EvertonFC1277d ago

It's a MS cloud azure partnership not a buyout ffs 😂🤣 simlar to Sony partnership with MS on AI learning and the cloud.

Lightning771277d ago Show
staticall1277d ago

@Lightning77
No offence, but either there's something wrong with your reading comprehension or you're dreaming.

This is the first sentence on Sega website:
«SEGA Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "SEGA") and Microsoft Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Microsoft") have agreed in principal, a strategic alliance that explores ways for SEGA to produce large-scale, global games in a next-generation development environment built on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.»

«explores ways for SEGA to produce large-scale, global games in a next-generation development environment built on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform» - Sega makes games that utilize Microsoft Azure cloud platform. That's it.

It's same as Sony had an agreement to use Microsoft Azure - news.microsoft.com/2019/05/16/ sony-and-microsoft-to-explore-s trategic-partnership/ - i quote:
«Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties, the two companies will explore joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services. In addition, the two companies will explore the use of current Microsoft Azure datacenter-based solutions for Sony’s game and content-streaming services.»

That doesn't mean that Sony is developing a game for Microsoft. See?

And "Super Game" is an initiative, not game name or something, they just plan to make their future games focus on “Global”, “Online”, “Community” and “IP utilization”, nothing more. And Microsoft helping them with “Global” and “Online” parts of said initiative.

FanboysKiller1277d ago (Edited 1277d ago )

@staticall
"Large scale"
It's a ms terminology used to market their aquired studios for making their future games , they choose their words carefully to tune down what they're doing objectively to avoid conflicts between the community which will make them look bad.

Lightning771277d ago ShowReplies(2)
Abriael1278d ago

Helpful link for those who don't understand what this means.
https://news.microsoft.com/...

Atom6661277d ago

Won't help. People still don't understand what that prior deal meant, either.

Here's another one to remember: https://n4g.com/news/232403...

People have to see that MS's goals are bigger than getting exclusive SEGA games for the sake of console wars.

These types of partnerships will only continue to be the norm. For those previously confused or upset by Spencer calling Google & AWS their real competition, maybe this SEGA announcement helps them understand?

MS has an advantage here to secure more of these partners.

I can't speak to the differences in tech, but if I'm a gaming publisher and I had to choose which big tech cloud provider to work with, I'd feel like MS understands my business better than Amazon or Google.

VenomUK1277d ago (Edited 1277d ago )

Internet infrastructure is obviously a massive growth area as tech & software companies require deeper connectivity and there are only three businesses in the game; AWS, Google and Microsoft. MS is establishing its foothold in the market.

Sega is building what it calls a 'super game' and providing access of its games to a global audience, so Microsoft has been brought in to help with the cloud infrastructure. This is portentous sign of how publishers, not just the console manufacturers, see the need to make their products available with cloud access.

XiNatsuDragnel1277d ago

I'm interested to see how this goes

Sciurus_vulgaris1277d ago

Two Sega-owned studios, creative Assembly and Relic Entertainment have co-developed games for Microsoft in recent years. Creative Assembly co-developed Halo Wars 2 with assistance from 343i’s secondary team. While Relic Entertainment co-developed Age of Empires IV alongside World’s Edge.

TheColbertinator1277d ago

Finally we get a new Jet Set Radio

MissAubrey1277d ago

but smilebit is long gone tho so it may never he as good if it happend

Show all comments (57)
100°

Marathon is doomed — ARC Raiders is already a much better extraction shooter

Windows Central: “Embark Studios' ARC Raiders is the extraction shooter I've been waiting for. Here's why it's better than Bungie's upcoming Marathon.”

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
_SilverHawk_1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

This is silly. I think both games are amazing. Both games can be very successful at the same time and I hope they are.

z2g1h ago

I hate articles like this. “My opinion is all that matters. Click my stuff”. Both games will have their audiences. Some ppl like rock. Some ppl like rap. Not everyone is the same.

z2g1h ago

So we can we can see into the future now? I’m sure ARC is fine, me personally? Far more interested in Marathon. Between known Bungie’s solid gameplay and world building to the aesthetics and concept, I’m all in on Marathon.

jjb198159m ago

I played the Technical Test 2 earlier today and had a blast. I got thrown in an instance, saw a guy walking up some stairs, started shooting at him and watched him run for his life. It was funny until I got killed by some random drones. They're both different games and will have their space. Only the gameplay loop will tell.

pwnmaster300054m ago

Why do gamers/gamejournalist do this? We need to stop with all this doom article game shit.

lodossrage48m ago

windowscentral wouldn't have wrote this "piece" if Bungie was still owned by Microsoft.

And yes, I'm implying exactly what anyone reading this comment thinks.

80°

10 Games That Owe Their Success To PS Plus

Who would have thought that giving games away for free would be so lucrative?

Read Full Story >>
dualshockers.com
240°

Microsoft CEO Boasts Gaming Success Across Xbox, PlayStation, PC Game Pass, and More

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella shared a bullish report on the performance of the Xbox gaming business also on PlayStation.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
23h ago
Christopher22h ago

I'm kind of hoping they drop most hardware support here with a 'good enough console' next generation and focus more on being a publisher. Obviously that is doing well for them and they can still push cloud gaming since it's going to tons of smart TVS and devices. They're now the largest video game publisher in the world, if they aren't doing the most sales and pre-orders, then they would be in trouble. They aren't.

Lightning7717h ago

They're gonna try again with a new gen console. If they want to compete they need to actually be competive. Say games like Halo, Blade Elder Scrolls or whatever big game it is. Needs to only be on Xbox and PC. If those games go multiplat it needs to be after a few years or at least a year later definitely not 6 months as a good portion of ppl will wait. Knowing MS they'll probably try and compete, then when things don't go there way they pivot and change the metrics again.

crazyCoconuts12h ago

I don't think you're reading the tea leaves here. Leadership hasn't used the word "exclusive" in quite a while, and they're now boasting about PS sales. They're probably done with consoles and exclusive at this point.

DodoDojo12h ago

I don't think they'll try. They have been beating a dead horse for so long now and they have finally realized it isn't going nowhere.

Fearmonkey9h ago

MS is going to drop being hardware exclusive, they are going publisher and subscription. You will be able to buy a Xbox, but you will be able to play on any platform, that's their new goal. After the hit with Oblivion remastered and major sales on PS5, no more Xbox/PC exclusives long term..

rlow19h ago

I think with the latest price hike on their console, they’re well on their way to axing hardware.

Christopher8h ago

Hardware axing entirely is bad news. They've sold most of their hardware on the Series S this generation. I think if they capture a lower hardware market that can still buy games (especially on sale), they'll actually hit a good market considering how the economy is going. Especially in the U.S. People are going to want to keep gaming and streaming isn't that good for online gaming at all.

Lightning779h ago

@crazy they've stated multiple times they're going another gen. The next gen Controller even got leaked.

Tired of repeating myself whenever it comes to this subject of Xbox having another gen.

IRetrouk6h ago

Xbox consoles are done, all we gonna get is some branded 3rd party shite at best, ms aint interested in being a console manufacturer no more, this much is obvious.

hiawa236h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Microsoft has too much money for that. They are rumored to release a PC/console hybrid in 2026. They will push all you hope as a publisher while having new hardware next year, so the games will appear on their platform and every other platform which is good to me if the goal is to sell software. If that is where the money is why would anyone fault MS for that? The prices are going to be insane for the next PlayStation and console from Microsoft, though, but it is what they voted for, so this is what we got.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 6h ago
Obscure_Observer14h ago

“We continue to transform the business and focus on margin expansion as we bring our games to over 500 million monthly active users across devices. We ended the quarter as the top publisher by pre-orders and pre-installs on both Xbox and PlayStation Store.”

Amazing news!

Xbox reigning within rival territory.

Big slap in the face of haters who used to crap on Xbox´s games and its quality.

IAMRealHooman13h ago

........you must be part owl, you keep 180ing, your position.

-Foxtrot6h ago

One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party

Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along.

Obscure_Observer3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

@-Foxtrot

"One minute he says that they will NEVER go third party"

Fact.

"Now he's all for it like this was Microsofts grand master plan all along."

False.

Never said it was Microsoft´s master plan all along. But it is REALLY working for us, as the fact that you´ll be able to enjoy Xbox gamers isn´t killing us. Rather the contrary, we are happy that everybody is funding our games on Gamepass.

Specially now with the imminent new $80 price tag for Xbox first party games.

It is what it is.

IAMRealHooman11h ago

how about that massive price hike?

Relientk778h ago

He loves it. Now he gets to support the trillion dollar company even more by giving them more of his money.

Reaper22_8h ago

I agree.. great news for Microsoft and tbe xbox brand. Your Playstation is now a xbox. Microsoft wasn't kidding around when they said xbox will be everywhere. Now they are laughing all the way to the bank. Imo sony needs to do similar things. They're putting their biggest titles on PC. Might as well bring them over to other consoles too. They aren't making much on console sales.

IAMRealHooman6h ago

Of course MS wants PlayStation owners, their is literally twice as many of them.

andy857h ago

Theres been one game in the last few years that's been good. Indy. Long way to go before you start talking about their games and their quality

Bathyj5h ago

Xbox gamers really are the strangest demographic. Not so long ago you are all saying PlayStation isn't the competition Amazon is because Phil said so. You love to parrot what your corporate talking say. That wasn't actually true Xbox and PlayStation were in direct competition but because Xbox was losing so badly Phil had to act like they weren't.

Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero. In fact Microsoft is now a third party publisher and they need PlayStation they don't need Xbox or Xbox gamers they need PlayStation gamers and PC gamers and mobile phone gamers and switch gamers.

You're here cheering for the fact you've become irrelevant because you think it's important that your uncle Phil is making money. You think PlayStation gamers are upset if Microsoft releases more good games in a year than sony does. when Microsoft makes a good game you shout take that playstation!

PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games

Reaper22_4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

I think you're confused. Microsoft never saw Sony as their biggest competitor. They've reiterated it for years. Sony is doing the same thing by putting their biggest franchises on PC, which is OK with Microsoft. Their will be more playstaion games coming to Microsoft ecosystems. Maybe not to xbox consoles but playstation won't be the only place you can play their games. Kind of how it is now. I would bet that they are making plans to do just that but they probably fear the backlash from their fanbase which is silly because noone is gonna stop playing games just because it's on on another platform.

Obscure_Observer3h ago

"Cut to present day and Xbox and PlayStation aren't competition because Xbox has no hardware presence it's zero."

If that was remotely true you wouldn´t be so mad about Xbox gamers getting day one games on Gamepass that you have to pay full price for.

"PlayStation gamers simply say thank you I will third party publisher that makes me games"

And we´re thankful for Playstation gamers supporting Xbox games funding our day one games on Gamepass.

Like I said: Everybody wins.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
MrDead13h ago

We brought two of the biggest publishers in the world, cost thousands of people their livelihoods and consolidated a huge part of the industry, look how successful we are at gaming!

crazyCoconuts12h ago

Top Secret Strategy for How to Become the Biggest Publisher in the World:
1. Buy everybody

The3faces11h ago

And this has been standard business practice in every industry. Don't hate the player hate the game! lol

Reaper22_8h ago

Buy everybody....if you can.

Obscure_Observer9h ago

I have no doubt that the vast majority of developers and studios will be looking at Microsoft as far job security is a concern.

Microsoft will allow its studios to release their games to every single platform, which means more investment on new games, more money, more jobs positions, better payment, benefits and recognition among gamers worldwide.

You though MS would crash and burn

You want MS to leave gaming forever but GAMERS clearly wants otherwise.

You said MS doesn´t know how to make great games but Xbox games dominating sales on Playstation clearly says otherwise.

Now you also have Playstation gamers to blame for helping the rich to get richer.

I warned you. You were on a fool´s errand all the time.

Now all you can do is watch as MS and Xbox gaming grows bigger and better than ever and release games for everyone!

crazyCoconuts5h ago

At the end of this road, Bethesda, Activision, etc, will still be releasing games for everyone and Xbox consoles will be no more.

If that's what you claim to have foreseen, then congratulations, you win.

MrDead2h ago

You think three major publishers no longer competing and thousands fired to feed the piggies at MS is a good thing, I don't.

More and more owned by fewer and fewer is what you're cheering for, all that leads to is $80 first party games kid.

Luc2012h ago

When you have to say that something was a success, it means it wasn't

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