SEGA wanted to kill PlayStation - and thought it would be easy
New documents have revealed what SEGA thought of PlayStation back in the day, and in the '90s, the gaming giant said it would be 'easy' to kill its rival.
06th Jul 2023 13:35
SEGA | Naughty Dog
SEGA wanted to kill PlayStation - and thought it would be easy
New documents have revealed what SEGA thought of PlayStation back in the day, and in the '90s, the gaming giant said it would be 'easy' to kill its rival.
06th Jul 2023 13:35
SEGA | Naughty Dog
It seems for many like a lifetime ago that SEGA was in the gaming hardware game, but given how fast it vanished from the market, anyone who wasn't around for the SEGA Saturn wouldn't be blamed for presuming it was never there at all.
Of course, SEGA is the Sonic the Hedgehog gang - but once upon a time. SEGA deployed a console that fans truly adored, while making itself infamous with its ruthless advertising campaign attempting to bring down Nintendo.
It was the wild west in advertising back then, and SEGA was more than willing to go for the kill shot with its "SEGA does what Nintendon't" branding. It turns out there's a chance that SEGA's brutal approach to the industry wasn't reserved for the plumber alone.
SEGA documents slating PlayStation have leaked
My, my. How the tables have turned. A huge collection of documents (via Reddit) from the 1990s have leaked as part of the ongoing Microsoft vs Sony saga, and many of them offer a peek into the inner workings of SEGA at the height of its game. And damn, the gaming giant was mean.
A notable email from the documents is from former SEGA of America CEO Tom Kalinsky, who says, "I just visited 10 retail stores in Tokyo (most in Akihabara); it's now spring break, so the crowds of teens/college kids are huge. We are killing Sony. In every store, Saturn hardware is sold out, and there are stacks of PlayStation."
The Saturn made a strong impact upon launch in Japan thanks to the release of Virtua Fighter 2, but it wasn't to last. Kalinsky continues, "It is not unusual to see 40-50 copies of Panzer [Dragoon] Zwei or Virtua Fighter 2 stocked in even small stores and they are selling fast.
"I wish I could get all our staff, sales people, retailers, analysts, media, etc. to see and understand what's happening in Japan; they would then understand why we will win here in the US eventually."
It's pretty cheeky of SEGA, but it's telling of its wider attitudes in the industry at the time. SEGA thought it was the king of the world, and even if it might've been for a period, it ultimately led to its downfall. Anyone doubting it only needs to remember what happened to the Dreamcast.
SEGA thought killing PlayStation would be easy
Kalinsky goes on to say that SEGA could easily "kill Sony," adding, "The retailers commented they can't compare the true sales rate because Saturn sells out before they can measure accurately. Our interactive displays are better, and our software displays and stocking are far superior."
SEGA's smugness didn't last long, with the Saturn failing to crack the US market, despite the fact it was $50 cheaper than the PlayStation. While SEGA is still a massive power in today's market, it's a far cry from the days it was ever going to "kill" PlayStation.
It looks like there's a chance a big part of the downfall of SEGA's hardware empire was getting cocky, and if these messages are anything to go by, it’s safe to assume Kalinsky underestimated the giant that PlayStation became. You know how the classic adage goes - chat s**t, get banged.
About The Author
Joseph Kime
Joseph Kime is the Senior Trending News Journalist for GGRecon from Devon, UK. Before graduating from MarJon University with a degree in Journalism, he started writing music reviews for his own website before writing for the likes of FANDOM, Zavvi and The Digital Fix. He is host of the Big Screen Book Club podcast, and author of Building A Universe, a book that chronicles the history of superhero movies. His favourite games include DOOM (2016), Celeste and Pokemon Emerald.
