Sega exec ices blockchain gaming plans, calls play-to-earn ‘boring’

Sega trademarked the concept of its own NFTs at the peak of the last bull market, but now it’s returning to the sidelines

article-image

IB Photography/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Gaming veteran Sega has announced a strategic retreat from its blockchain initiatives to avoid what it’s calling a devaluation of its content.

The Tokyo-headquartered studio, famous for titles including Sonic the Hedgehog and Virtua Fighter, won’t be incorporating blockchain or crypto in its products any time soon, according to co-chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi. 

Sega is also suspending plans to develop its blockchain-based games, per Utsumi. Many had anticipated the company would follow rivals Ubisoft and Square Enix in exploring blockchain, NFTs and potentially crypto.

“The action in play-to-earn games is boring,” Utsumi told Bloomberg. “What’s the point if games are no fun?” 

The executive said Sega was now waiting to see whether blockchain products were “really going to take off” within gaming. 

Read more: The death of play-to-earn gaming

Sega began exploring blockchain for use in its games and franchises last year and even trademarked “Sega NFT” in Japan in December 2021, around the same time crypto markets peaked.

One Sega foray into blockchain gaming came last November when it reportedly teamed with Japanese studio double jump.tokyo for the development of a blockchain-powered card game on Oasys. 

It is unclear at this stage whether the game will proceed. Sega did not immediately respond to Blockworks’ request for comment.

While proponents say blockchain has the potential to revolutionize gaming by enabling ownership and peer-to-peer trade of in-game assets, not everyone is sold just yet.

Concerns include over-commercialization and “pay-to-win” environments, artificial scarcity, technical issues and poor design, as well as limited accessibility of gated content.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Upcoming Events

Brooklyn, NY

SUN - MON, JUN. 22 - 23, 2025

Blockworks and Cracked Labs are teaming up for the third installment of the Permissionless Hackathon, happening June 22–23, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. This is a 36-hour IRL builder sprint where developers, designers, and creatives ship real projects solving real problems across […]

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research

article-image

Bitcoin needs a price, but its magic runs deeper

article-image

Circle had a pretty successful first day of trading, but what’s next for the stablecoin issuer?

article-image

Solana’s USDC caught a boost after being paired with the TRUMP memecoin

article-image

The stablecoin issuer’s successful first day of trading is likely to spur more crypto IPOs, industry watchers say

article-image

Job openings rallied and continuing claims stalled ahead of May’s employment report

article-image

A group of Twitch streamers battle for bitcoin. Will their chats help them?