Sega Suggests Expectations for 'Definitive Editions' Could be Behind Disappointing Launch Sales

Sega attributes lower-than-anticipated sales for several recent titles to consumer demand for “definitive editions.”

According to reports from GameBiz, the publisher behind Sonic the Hedgehog and Persona shared insights on its recent financial performance during a Q2 earnings call yesterday. The discussion, as relayed by Automaton, highlighted why sales for new premium and free-to-play titles missed forecasts despite receiving praise from critics and fans.

The company noted that factors such as genre competition and launch pricing may be impacting returns. Sega also suggested that players might delay purchases in anticipation of future “definitive editions” of these games.

In recent years, publishers have frequently used definitive editions—re-releases featuring minor visual improvements and extra content—to boost sales. Sega has adopted this strategy as well, particularly through its subsidiary Atlus, known for the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei franchises.

Atlus has a track record of releasing enhanced versions, such as Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal, which arrived years after their original debuts. Similarly, Shin Megami Tensei V was released in 2021 and later expanded with the Vengeance version on additional platforms in 2024. Atlus’s newest title, Metaphor: ReFantazio, launched late last year for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Sega did not specify any particular game or franchise when discussing the definitive edition trend. The company also appears cautious about attributing sales shortfalls to a single cause at this time.

“While we haven’t been able to pinpoint a precise cause of [the lower-than-expected sales performance], we believe the problem also lies in our marketing, which wasn’t able to sufficiently convey the appeal of our games to users,” said a Sega spokesperson during the investor call.

It remains uncertain whether Metaphor: ReFantazio or other Sega franchises will receive definitive editions. Meanwhile, fans are eagerly anticipating updates on Persona 6. The Persona 3 remake, titled Reload, was released earlier this year, and Persona 4 Revival is expected to follow suit in the near future. Additionally, Sega continues to support Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds with new content since its September launch.

• If you're looking for the best deals this week, we are compiling top Black Friday offers on video games, technology, and more. Visit our full Black Friday hub or check out dedicated pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox discounts.