Microsoft Planned To Keep Sega Games Multiplatform, Had Acquisition Happened

New court documents reveal that if Microsoft had acquired Sega, it planned to continue to release Sega’s games on other platforms. This plan was uncovered via a strategy document, released during the ongoing trial between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to determine the fate of the tech giant’s attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

A court document reviewed by IGN says that the plans were as follows. Microsoft would have acquired Sega and worked with the company operating on a set of general principles. First, Microsoft would continue to develop and sell acquired games on relevant platforms. Second, titles formerly exclusive to PlayStation and/or Nintendo consoles would be ported to Xbox. Third, all acquired games and franchises would launch on Xbox Game Pass for PC, console, and the cloud.

Microsoft has faced frequent skepticism for its claim that Call of Duty would remain on PlayStation post-acquisition. PlayStation versions of Starfield and Redfall were canceled after Microsoft acquired developer and publisher Bethesda. However, Microsoft had made no promise to keep those games on other platforms, nor had they been announced for them.

Boosting the Game Pass library seems to have also been a key motivation here. In an email, also disclosed as part of the trial, Xbox boss Phil Spencer requested permission from Microsoft CFO Amy Hood and CEO Satya Nadella to talk with Sega executives about acquiring its gaming studios. He wrote, “We believe that Sega has built a well-balanced portfolio of games across segments with global geographic appeal, and will help us accelerate Xbox Game Pass both on and off-console.”

The trial continues to reveal new behind-the-scenes information about the acquisition and all its involved parties. Alongside Sega, Microsoft considered acquiring Niantic and Bungie. A Bethesda executive expressed confusion at Xbox’s willingness to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. To defend its case, Microsoft claimed that it has lost the console wars.