Sega announces plans for further acquisitions, ruling out the possibility of selling

Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi stated in an interview with CNBC that the Japanese publisher acquired Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds. Rumors regarding Xbox creator Microsoft's interest in acquiring Sega were also discussed.

"As part of Sega Sammy, we're acquiring several companies. We've just announced the acquisition of Rovio. We continue to explore growth opportunities," he noted.

Previously disclosed legal documents revealed that in November 2020, Xbox boss Phil Spencer sought approval from Microsoft's CEO to engage with Sega Sammy regarding the acquisition of their gaming studios.

At that time, Spencer described Sega, the creator of Sonic, as "the most appealing acquisition target due to its global PC catalog, presence on mobile devices in Asia, and the brand's global popularity on consoles through its classic intellectual properties."

"Many companies are showing interest. We're honored," Utsumi added in the CNBC interview.

"We have attractive intellectual properties and potential. The companies belong to the owner. We have a strong owner. I don't believe such a deal will happen."

Utsumi also highlighted that following the success of Sonic movies, Sega intends to expand the audience for its other major franchises like Persona and Yakuza beyond the realm of video games.