A mysterious social media post by Xbox marketing executive Aaron Greenberg hints at a major acquisition for Microsoft. Namely, the hedgehog-themed post hints at Microsoft purchasing Sega, owners of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise (among many others).
Even though it is a much smaller company now, Sega and its Genesis console were once the first real competitors to Nintendo in the home console market. The Genesis thrived due to its software, a mix ofsuperior versions of multi-platform gamesand distinctive first-party games. Many of Sega’s franchises had a decidedly quirky atmosphere, including titles likeCrazy Taxi,Space Channel 5, andEcco the Dolphin. In the modern day, Sega is best known forSonic the Hedgehogand games created by its subsidiary Atlus, such as thePersonaseries.
RELATED:Ranking the Video Game Console Generations
The latest rumors come from an unusual social media post from the aforementioned General Manager of Xbox Games Marketing. Greenberg recently made an Instagram post depicting a hedgehog using an Xbox controller. Of course, this brings to mind Sega’sSonic the Hedgehog,suggesting an acquisition.Microsoft’s recent expensive acquisition of ZeniMax, which owns Bethesda, showed Microsoft’s willingness to pay for iconic franchises, and a Sega acquisition could continue the trend. After all, Microsoft has since expressed its desire for more acquisitions.
Microsoft acquiring Sega could help the latter company regain some of its former prominence. Sega has experienced financial troubles in recent years, made worse by the global pandemic. After selling off its arcade business holdings,Sega recently announced a wave of mass layoffsand salary cuts. Microsoft’s financial backing could give Sega the chance to revive some of the older franchises that it would consider too much of a risk to revive on its own. Plus, Microsoft could help to improve quality control for Sega’s future flagship titles, following lukewarm critical reception for games likeSonic Forces.
For its part, Microsoft would stand to gain as well. Making futureSonicgames Xbox console exclusives could help Xbox have a child-friendly mascot to call its own. Plus, Microsoft would own Atlus, which would open the possibility of releasing blockbuster titles like futurePersonagames, typically PlayStation exclusives, on Xbox consoles. This is admittedly an unlikely possibility, given theXbox’s small Japanese audience, but it would send a huge jolt through the industry if it did come to pass.
Funnily enough, this wouldn’t be the first time that Microsoft has hosted exclusive Sega games. After discontinuing the Dreamcast console, Sega made several sequels to its Dreamcast games as exclusive titles for the original Xbox. These included sequels togames likeJet Set RadioandCrazy Taxi. If the acquisition rumors are true, Xbox owners may soon see new installments in these franchises.
