Japanese gaming giant Sega is looking at integrating cloud technology and NFTs as part of its new “Super Game” project to connect different games to each other.
The news has caused a predictable backlash from the crypto-skeptic section of the gaming community, with many people voicing their frustrations at the firm online this week.
The Super Game initiative is set to roll out over the next five years and will reportedly see the development of a wide range of new cross-platform triple A grade games. The firm is said to be weighing up an investment of around $800 million into the project.
The suggestion of potential NFT and cloud support was made during an interview on Sega Japan’s recruitment website. Gaming news outlet Video Games Chronicle provided a translation for English speakers earlier this week.
During the interview, Sega producer Masayoshi Kikuchi noted that the gaming industry has a “history of expansion” into new forms of culture and technology such as social media in particular, with streaming and watching others play games via platforms like YouTube and Twitch becoming popular in recent years.
Kikuchi went on to suggest that a move into cloud tech and NFTs would therefore be inevitable, noting that:
“It is a natural extension for the future of gaming that it will expand to involve new areas such as cloud gaming and NFTs. We are also developing SuperGame from the perspective of how far different games can be connected to each other.”
THE BETRAYAL. WHY SEGA? pic.twitter.com/HuabO5QaiG
— JOLLY J✨ (@DynamoSuperX) April 10, 2022
Some Sega fans vented their frustrations on Twitter, with user NotEdgyYet stating “Don’t you dare Sega you’re doing good right now, don’t screw up now.” While matthewhenzel noted “I’ve said this before and I stand by it.. NFT = NO FVCKING THANKS! Not for me.”
The pushback seemed much tamer than other occasions in which big gaming firms announced NFT plans, possibly because these comments were from Sega Japan execs and not from the U.S. branch….
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