Sega President Shuji Utsumi has articulated the company's evolving strategy, acknowledging the enduring value of physical media while stressing the critical importance of a digital shift in the modern gaming landscape. In an interview with Famitsu, Utsumi highlighted the increasing significance of PC gaming and the need for Sega to adapt to a more global, digital-first approach.
"When it comes to titles we call ‘full games’ for consoles and PCs, we believe that a digital shift is crucial," Utsumi stated, as translated by Eurogamer. He pointed to the growing PC player base, noting that even in regions where consoles are less prevalent, many individuals can still access games through personal computers. To effectively cultivate this expanding market, Utsumi believes strengthening digitalization is paramount. "We tend to think from a physical perspective, so I think we need to be more digitally conscious and become more global."
Despite this emphasis on digital, Utsumi affirmed that Sega's history as a platform provider means the company still holds physical media in high regard. "We were originally a platform provider, and of course, we still value the culture of physical media," he explained. Sega's current approach involves pursuing this digital transition "in parallel" with maintaining the important aspects of physical releases, rather than completely abandoning them.
These remarks reflect a broader industry trend, with publishers increasingly prioritizing PC as a primary platform. Utsumi's comments suggest that Sega views PC as a key pillar of its business, a perspective echoed by other major publishers. For example, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has previously noted that the PC market, which has been digital for many years, has continued to grow as a result. While competing marketplaces exist on PC, the prevalence of digital distribution underscores the ongoing transformation of game sales and consumption.