- Sega’s president says there has been a rise in fans who follow its IPs without playing the actual games.
- The company also points out that such fans can sometimes show even higher engagement than active players.
- Many have previously debated whether one can be considered a gaming fan without actually playing games.
The games industry has gotten so big that it has attracted all sorts of audiences. Between those who enjoy AAA games and those who stick to their favorite indie titles, there are also fans who don’t necessarily get to spend a lot of time playing games.
Whether one can be considered a fan of gaming without engaging with games themselves has been a subject of hot debate lately, but Sega certainly seems to think that there’s no harm in people considering themselves fans, even if they don’t play games.
Why it matters: Gaming is now more accessible than ever, thanks to smartphones, handhelds, cloud gaming, and more. It appears studios are now looking at the industry with a broader lens.
As reported by Automaton, Sega’s president Shuji Utsumi has said the company now wants to cater to fans who enjoy its franchises even if they do not actively play games.
He says that there has been an increase in people who like its IPs but do not necessarily play the related games. More interestingly, he suggested that this audience’s engagement can sometimes be even higher than that of players.
A popular means of engagement for this type of fan comes from YouTube content based on games such as Like a Dragon. As per Sega, even if people haven’t played a game, they are considered a “gamer.”
According to the company’s president, Like A Dragon merchandise has been performing extremely well as a result of the rise of this type of gamer. Utsumi also says that such fans are often women.
Of course, many believe that one can’t be a fan of the medium without engaging with it at all, so the Sega president’s perspective on the situation is certainly very interesting.
What are your thoughts on Sega’s definition of a gamer? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
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[News Reporter]
Bawal is an MBBS student by day and a gaming journalist by night. He has been gaming since childhood, growing fond of the creativity and innovation of the industry. His career as a gaming journalist started one year ago, and his journey has allowed him to write reviews, previews, and features for various sites. Bawal has also been cited in reputed websites such as Screenrant, PCGamesN, WCCFTech, GamesRadar, and more.
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