In a recent interview with Famitsu, Sega president Shuji Utsumi discussed the company’s stance on game distribution. While Sega sees a shift to digital distribution as crucial for improving the performance of its full-priced games across PC and consoles, physical media will still be an important part of its culture.
According to Utsumi, the rise of the PC player base is part of what’s driving Sega’s shift to a more digital mindset. Even in regions where consoles aren’t widely adopted, dedicated players can still access games on their computers. Sega aims to strengthen its digital offerings to tap into these specific regions, which falls in line with its goal of becoming a more “digitally-conscious and globally-focused company.” Interestingly, Utsumi notes that Sega’s corporate culture tends to default to a “physical-first mindset,” thus the conscious effort to change.
Additionally, Sega had a “tough year” in 2025. Titles that were positioned as major releases failed to meet their sales targets (Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, in particular, fell short of its sales goals despite favorable reception from critics). Following these results, Sega plans to implement measures that will allow them to sell more of their games.
However, Utsumi notes that, as a former console holder, Sega still values physical media and is currently aiming for a model of distribution that will allow it to pursue digital without abandoning the former.
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