Sega Suggests Expectations for 'Definitive Editions' Could be Behind Disappointing Launch Sales

Sega is pointing to user expectations for “definitive editions” arsenic 1 imaginable origin down lower-than-expected income for immoderate of its caller games.

As spotted by GameBiz, the Sonic the Hedgehog and Persona institution opened up astir its show passim the past fewer months during a Q2 fiscal briefing Q&A league with shareholders yesterday. The speech (via Automaton) saw Sega code the thought process down wherefore income for its caller premium and free-to-play games failed to conscionable expectations contempt mostly affirmative reviews from critics and fans.

Sega says a fig of elements could beryllium contributing to disappointing returns, including contention from different releases wrong the aforesaid genre, arsenic good arsenic motorboat prices. The gaming steadfast besides suggested gamers could beryllium passing connected purchasing games astatine motorboat owed to an anticipation they volition yet beryllium capable to acquisition “definitive editions” of those aforesaid titles further down the line.

Definitive editions, which typically encompass video crippled re-releases with comparatively insignificant ocular upgrades and further content, person go a fashionable maneuver for publishers to utilize passim the past decade. Sega is nary alien to the thought either, particularly erstwhile it comes to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei developer Atlus.

The workplace has a past of pushing re-releases for games similar Persona 4 and 5, which received Golden and Royal versions a fewer years aft their archetypal launches. There’s besides Shin Megami Tensei V, which primitively released successful 2021 and went connected to travel to much platforms with its Vengeance counterpart successful 2024. Atlus’ latest, Metaphor: ReFantazio, released for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S precocious past year.

Sega didn’t specifically telephone retired immoderate crippled oregon franchise erstwhile pointing to its definitive variation theory. The institution besides mostly seems hesitant to straight spot the blasted connected immoderate 1 origin for now.

“While we haven’t been capable to pinpoint a precise origin of [the lower-than-expected income performance], we judge the occupation besides lies successful our marketing, which wasn’t capable to sufficiently convey the entreaty of our games to users,” a Sega spokesperson told investors.

It’s unclear if Metaphor: ReFantazio oregon immoderate different Sega bid volition person a definitive variation oregon equivalent re-release successful the future. For now, fans are eagerly awaiting immoderate quality Atlus whitethorn person to stock astir Persona 6. A Persona 3 remake, subtitled Reload, launched aboriginal past year, with Persona 4 Revival acceptable to springiness its sequel the aforesaid attraction sometime successful the adjacent future. Sega is besides continuing to rotation retired caller contented for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which launched successful September.

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Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).