Sega considering Netflix-like game subscription service

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

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 follow up to the much-loved Sonic Adventure series.

"Sonic Adventure was kind of a game-changer for Sonic," he said.

"When we release it, it should be good, it should be impressive - we need to meet or even exceed people's expectations, so it takes some time."

Part of the series which fans have been clamouring to see return is the Chao Garden - a much-loved virtual pet synonymous with Sonic Adventure.

Mr Utsumi said "we've been talking about it" - but would not go into further detail, only that he could not "say too much about it".

Mr Utsumi unsurprisingly talked up the firm's successes this year, which have included winning multiple gaming awards with new IP Metaphor: ReFantazio, made by the team 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 hard decision," he said of the cuts which saw 240 people lose their jobs.

"But when you reset the initiative, you have to make that hard decision."

And he said Football Manager had been delayed over "a quality issue".

"I mean, financially, maybe providing the game at an early stage can be the better choice.

"But we decided to keep having the quality 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 nice if that kind of excitement goes on."