Microsoft Considered Purchasing SEGA in 2020

As reported by The Verge, an email from Microsoft’s Phil Spencer had been shared during Microsoft’s FTC hearing, which shows Spencer attempted to request a strategy approval to approach SEGA Sammy over a potential acquisition of its SEGA gaming studios in November 2020.

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,

Phil Spencer in the November 2020 email.

Spencer praised SEGA’s numerous franchises and global appeal as potential big selling points for their Game Pass service; however; while Microsoft’s acquisition of SEGA didn’t proceed, a Microsoft internal April 2021 merger review document listed SEGA as a key target. Bungie, Zynga, and IO Interactive were part of a number of companies Microsoft looked at acquiring.