Sega's Commitment to Game Preservation Amidst Ownership Uncertainties

Sega is taking significant steps to ensure the longevity of its game collection, amidst challenges concerning the precise number of titles it possesses. The firm that has played a significant role in the gaming industry since the late 1960s, revealed its uncertainties at the SIGGRAPH 2024 conference. Yosuke Okunari discussed Sega's newfound emphasis on preserving development assets associated with its games, a focus that has only gained traction in 2023.

Over the years, Sega's acquisition of various companies, such as Technosoft and Atlus, has complicated the tracking of its extensive game library. Okunari noted that earlier preservation projects resulted in offerings like the Mega Drive Mini, nostalgic games incorporated in the Yakuza series, and the 3D Classics series available on Nintendo 3DS. Moving forward, Sega is gearing up to create a thorough database that will include information on its subsidiaries and affiliated entities like Atlus, Sammy, and Technosoft.

A presentation slide revealed during the event pointed out that Sega currently lacks clarity regarding the total number of games it claims ownership of. Furthermore, the slide hinted at Sega's ownership of the catalog from Warp, an establishment created by the influential Kenji Eno.