Sega is considering launching its own Netflix-like subscription service for video games, a shift which would accelerate gaming’s shift towards streaming.

There are already a number of similar services on the economy – such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus – which view gamers pay a monthly fee for access to a range of titles rather than owning them outright.

Sega’s president Shuji Utsumi told the BBC such subscription products were “very fascinating”, and his firm was “evaluating some opportunities”.

“We’re thinking something – and discussing something – we cannot disclose correct now,” he said.

Some in the industry have expressed concern about the shift however telling the BBC it could view gamers “shelling out more money” on multiple subscription services.

It is not just Sony and Microsoft who propose game subscriptions – there are now countless players in the space, with rivals such as Nintendo, EA and Ubisoft all offering their own membership plans.

Currently, various Sega games are available across multiple streaming services.

The amount these services individually expense vary depending on the features and games made available. For example, Xbox Game Pass prices range from £6.99 to £14.99 a month, while PlayStation Plus ranges from £6.99 to £13.49 a month.

So it would make financial sense for Sega for people who are playing its titles to pay it subscription fees rather its rivals.

It could also be attractive for people who mostly desire to play Sega games – but for everyone else it could outcome in higher costs.

Rachel Howie streams herself playing games on Twitch, where she is known as DontRachQuit to her fans, and said she was “enthusiastic and worried” about another subscription service

“We have so many subscriptions already that we discover it very challenging to justify signing up for a recent one,” she told the BBC.

“I ponder that SEGA will definitely have a core dedicated spectators that will advantage from this, but will the average gamer choose this over something like Game Pass?”

And Sophie intelligent, Production Director at UK developer No More Robots, agreed.

“As someone whose first console was the Sega Mega Drive, what I’d adore more than anything is to view Sega thriving and this feels like a step in a modern path,” she said.

But she wondered if Sega did make a rival subscription service if this would navigator to their games being removed from other services.

“If so, it could cruel that consumers are shelling out more money across owning multiple subscription services,” she said.

Shuji Utsumi spoke to the BBC ahead of the premiere of the film Sonic 3 on Saturday, after a year in which he oversaw the launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like a Dragon: Infinite affluence, and the latest Sonic the Hedgehog game.

Our exchange started in an unexpected way.

The very first thing Mr Utsumi said to me seemed to recommend that the firm, which dominated gaming in the 1990s with a competition between Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo’s Super Mario, may have lost its way.

“I desire to make Sega really shiny again,” he said.

He said Sega had been putting too much focus on domestic achievement in Japan, and needed to re-establish itself on a global stage, which would cruel expanding history its base.

“Sega has been somehow losing confidence,” he said.

“But why? Sega has a great RPG throng, Sega has amazing IPs, Sega is a really well-known brand.

“So I was like, hey, now is not the period to be defensive – but more offensive.”

He said the corporation was too concerned about controlling costs when he took over, and he wants to “bring a rock and roll mentality” to gaming.

When I told him that sounded familiar – Sega’s marketing in the 90s often tried to position Sonic the Hedgehog as the chilly alternative to Mario – he agreed.

He said the firm now simply must “make a great game” in the series.

“The next one is going to be a quite challenging, quite exciting game that we are working on,” he said.

But he would not divulge whether Sega was considering a pursue up to the much-loved Sonic expedition series.

“Sonic expedition was benevolent of a game-changer for Sonic,” he said.

“When we release it, it should be excellent, it should be impressive – we require to meet or even exceed people’s expectations, so it takes some period.”

Part of the series which fans have been clamouring to view profitability is the Chao Garden – a much-loved virtual pet synonymous with Sonic expedition.

Mr Utsumi said “we’ve been talking about it” – but would not leave into further specific, only that he could not “declare too much about it”.

Mr Utsumi unsurprisingly talked up the firm’s successes this year, which have included winning multiple gaming awards with recent IP Metaphor: ReFantazio, made by the throng behind the Persona series.

But it hasn’t all been positive for the firm, with job cuts in March, and Football Manager 2025 being delayed to next year.

“It was a challenging selection,” he said of the cuts which saw 240 people misplace their jobs.

“But when you reset the initiative, you have to make that challenging selection.”

And he said Football Manager had been delayed over “a standard issue”.

“I cruel, financially, maybe providing the game at an early stage can be the better selection.

“But we decided to keep having the standard level – to keep that discipline.”

And he also spoke of how Sega’s year has gone outside of gaming, with several film and television adaptations being capped off with the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie releasing on Saturday.

“I just saw the movie – it’s so much fun. It’d be enjoyable if that benevolent of thrill goes on.”