Sega says its ‘Super Game’ plan is multiple games, and may use NFTs

It was previously believed that the codename referred to a single triple-A title

Sega has shed more light on its ‘Super Game’ project, explaining that it actually refers to multiple games and that some of them could incorporate cloud or NFT technology.

In May 2021, the company revealed during a financial results presentation that its long-term plan included a five-year strategy called “creation of Super Game”.

Its parent company Sega Sammy then claimed in November that it would consider investing up to ¥100.0 billion ($882 million) over the next five years to achieve its ‘Super Game’ ambitions.

At the time it was believed that the ‘Super Game’ was going to be a single, enormous title, but a new internal interview has clarified that it refers to a description Sega is giving to a number of high-budget games it has planned.

In an interview on Sega Japan’s recruitment website (translated by VGC), executive VP Shuji Utsumi explains: “Sega offers a wide range of game content, including hardware and arcade content, which is made possible by its diverse range of technologies. We have defined ‘SuperGame’ as the development of AAA titles that cross over SEGA’s comprehensive range of technologies, and we will aim to achieve this in our five-year plan.”

Explaining further, Utsumi said: “Several titles are being developed within the framework of SuperGame, and while each title will vary, there is no doubt that they will be interactive titles that go beyond the traditional framework of games.

“For example, in the past, people who played games were called gamers, but now watching games has become a culture in itself, and such people could no longer be called gamers. I think there is great potential in the relationship between people who play and watch games. We are thinking of creating new entertainment within these possibilities.”

According to Utsumi, a ‘SuperGame’ title has to meet four main criteria: “(i) multi-platform, (ii) global multi-language development, (iii) simultaneous worldwide release, and (iv) AAA titles. In other words, you can imagine that the scale of game development will be that of a global blockbuster.”

Sega’s general manager Katsuya Hisai added: “Several projects are currently underway for SuperGame. In my department, around 50 people are already involved in the initial stages. We expect that the final number of employees will be several hundred.”

The Super Game project could also incorporate cloud technology and NFTs, two technologies Sega has recently been getting involved with.

Sega producer Masayoshi Kikuchi explained during the same interview: “Gaming has a history of expansion through the connection of various cultures and technologies. For example, social networking and game video viewing are recent examples.

“It is a natural extension for the future of gaming that it will expand to involve new areas such as cloud gaming and NFT. We are also developing SuperGame from the perspective of how far different games can be connected to each other.”

Sega announced in November that it had agreed “a strategic alliance” with Microsoft, which will see the Japanese gaming giant develop games using the Xbox firm’s Azure cloud platform.

Meanwhile, in January, the company registered a trademark for ‘Sega NFT’, a week after CEO Haruki Satomi appeared to have cooled on the idea somewhat, acknowledging the current negativity around the NFT landscape.