Sega, known as a trailblazer in the realm of GameFi and blockchain gaming technologies, appears to be backing down from these sectors, based on a report from Bloomberg. According to the report, Shuji Utsumi, co-Chief Operating Officer at Sega, has expressed reservations about the sustainability and impact of this technology in the gaming industry.
Sources suggest that Sega intends to abandon plans to create its unique blockchain-based games. Utsumi was quoted as having voiced scepticism about the technological trajectory in the gaming sector. He expressed doubts about the gameplay in play-to-earn titles, casting shadows on the novelty of blockchain gaming. The implied question he aimed to provoke was a vital one – what makes a game enjoyable for its players if not compelling action?
Simultaneously, it is essential to note that the firm, rooted in Japan, had earlier issued statements about keeping some of its renowned games and intellectual properties off the blockchain. In spite of this stance, Sega has committed to enabling third-party developers to create blockchain-formulated games. A prior announcement from the company revealed a collaboration with Double Jump Tokyo for the creation of blockchain games focused on its less popular intellectual properties.
Conversations about Sega’s approach to blockchain gaming have always carried a touch of caution. The company was open about the possibility of withdrawal from the field on the grounds of profiteering; a stance that seemed to add to the company’s integrity.
We should also note Sega’s connections within the crypto market. As an investor in the Asia-based cryptocurrency fund IVC, a known participant in GameFi ventures, Sega has not yet entirely detached itself from the blockchain world. With a selection of its executives appearing at IVC’s latest IVS crypto conference in the Japanese city of Kyoto, the link between Sega and blockchain remains apparent.
In summary, Sega’s pivot from the blockchain gaming sector hints at the lingering scepticism that some traditional gaming titans harbour towards this disruptive technology. Nonetheless, the company’s interactions with inventive third-party developers and continued stake in crypto investments keep Sega’s relationship with blockchain as an open-ended story, waiting to be written.
Source: Coindesk
