[IGN] Sega Goes Third-Party, Nintendo Ties Announced -TT

[Gizmo_Duck]

Sega Goes Third-Party, Nintendo Ties Announced - IGN

Hardware player and giant publisher Sega made the announcement today…

www.ign.com

POSTED: FEB 2, 2001 7:30 PM

Sega Goes Third-Party, Nintendo Ties Announced​

Sega drops out of the hardware race to become a software-only firm -- and looks to the competition.​

Hardware player and giant publisher Sega made the announcement today that everyone in the industry was expecting it to make. The company, in an official release, said it plans to gradually remove itself from the industry as a hardware competitor and instead focus its efforts as a multi-platform, third-party publisher. Specifically, Sega announced its support for Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance handheld. The firm also confirmed that in an effort to accelerate the transition from hardware manufacturer to third-party software publisher, it would drop the price of its Dreamcast console to $99 effective February 4, 2001, incidentally the same price that Nintendo 64 retails for now.

"Sega is a company that has always dared to innovate and push this industry forward," said Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "Sega will continue to do so with its new strategy, and the result for consumers will be what you would always expect from a 'rules-breaker' like Sega ¿ a library of pioneering, jaw-dropping content now available any way you want to play."
Sega still plans to support Dreamcast through the year with more than 30 new titles, some of which will remain exclusive to the console. However, the company will also publish its first wave of cross-platform software, including Virtua Fighter 4 for PlayStation 2, which sources say has been designed from the ground up to accommodate Sony's next-generation console. Meanwhile, Sega also plans to introduce Sonic the Hedgehog Advance for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance handheld, as well as versions of ChuChu Rocket and Puyo Puyo.

Likewise, Sega also failed to touch upon any titles it may have in the works for Microsoft's Xbox. Interestingly, though, company insiders have indicated to IGNcube that a separate Xbox announcement detailing Sega's scheduled software lineup for the system could be made before the end of the week.

We have an incredible line-up, key opportunities with other non-gaming devices and a huge combined installed base worldwide for next generation platforms," continued Moore. "With this in place, Sega is well positioned to become the world's dominant interactive software publisher and the leading network entertainment company given our online strengths."

It is, without doubt, a very sad day for Sega as a hardware company, but also the start of a new era as Sega the third-party software publisher. IGNcube welcomes the transition and looks forward to playing some of Sega's greatest on GameCube in the not too distant future.

Came across this article, it’s kind of weird how nonchalant such an announcement is from Sega. Seems like everyone saw it coming but i didn’t really back then.

 

[Jaguar93]

It was wild seeing this shyt

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

It was wild seeing this shyt

Its still weird seeing sonic in mario games

 

[Mike809]

I read the title and said “Again?” to myself .

 

[Jx2]

It was wild seeing this shyt

This was the GOAT gaming era