With the third largest gaming market in the world, Japan is a great place for game publishers to cultivate an audience. It is also home to some of the most influential gaming companies.
PC gaming in Japan has seen significant growth in recent years. This is largely due to the popularity of shooters and battle royales.
Factors influencing the growth of the PC gaming market in Japan
Japan has a rich gaming history, and its influence on the industry is evident in many ways. In fact, the country is one of the world’s top video game markets and has a large number of gamers. It also has a very high standard for quality in its games, and it is known for its attention to detail.
The Japanese PC gaming market is booming, and there are several reasons why. The first reason is that more and more people are committing to PC gaming. The second reason is that more Japanese developers are creating games for PCs. Finally, the third reason is that more PC gamers are buying PCs to play games.
PC gaming in Japan is a huge business, and it contributes to the nation’s economy. In 2021, the market was worth about Y=2 trillion (about $13.7 billion). It’s dominated by mobile gaming and home consoles, but it’s still growing quickly.
According to Kantan Games analyst Dr Serkan Toto, there were 16 million PC gamers in Japan last year, or about 30 percent of the total gamer population (about 55.4 million). This is a 45% increase over 2015. Interestingly, 4.5 million of those were players who exclusively played on PCs, which is more than double the number reported in 2015. Dr Toto speculates that twin motivations are driving this growth, including supply issues for PS5 consoles and the pandemic pushing gamers to find entertainment wherever they could.
The lack of availability of PS5 consoles
In Japan, PlayStation still has a strong lead over Xbox. However, sales of the PS5 console are sluggish. This is due to the ongoing chip shortages that Sony has been experiencing. The lack of availability is frustrating for PlayStation fans in Japan. They’ve been waiting for a long time to get their hands on the console.
In addition to the shortage of PS5 consoles, there has been a decline in software sales for the console as well. This isn’t a surprise, considering that the console is not as popular as it was last gen. The console is also too big for many Japanese homes. As a result, people have been opting for the mobile versions of games instead.
The Japanese PC gaming market is growing quickly, and it’s not surprising that the console industry is struggling to keep up with demand. According to a report from Kadokawa ASCII, the Japanese game market is worth around 2 trillion yen in 2021. This includes console hardware and software, as well as smartphone and PC games.
The growth of the Japanese PC gaming market has been driven by a number of factors. These include the pandemic growing the nation’s overall gaming audience and the supply shortage of the PS5. It has also been boosted by a rise in the popularity of foreign and indie titles sold on Steam and the Epic Games Store. In addition, a growing number of Japanese publishers are making games for the PC platform.
The rise in popularity of indie games
In a country where PC gaming has historically been more of a niche when compared to mobile and console games, the rise of indie titles is helping to fuel its growth. As the world’s best games makers continue to push the boundaries of innovation and storytelling, they’re attracting a younger audience that is eager to explore their creations.
This trend is also being fueled by the growing popularity of Steam, which provides developers with a platform to distribute their work and reach an international audience. This has encouraged more Japanese indie developers to start their own studios and pursue the dream of creating their own unique video game. The success of independent games like Demon’s Souls is a great example of how this can lead to global acclaim for a developer that might not have otherwise had the opportunity.
But the path to indie glory isn’t easy, and many Japanese developers still have a lot of ground to cover before they can compete with their western counterparts. One of the biggest obstacles is overcoming the language barrier, as it can be difficult for developers who aren’t fluent in English to find an audience in lucrative markets. However, the rise of events like BitSummit and Kyoto Indies is helping to address this problem by providing a platform for indie developers to showcase their games.
The rise in popularity of Steam
For a long time, many people thought that PC gaming was dying in Japan. However, this perception has changed as a result of the rise in popularity of Steam. This has also led to more games being developed for the platform. These include some of the most popular Japanese titles such as Elden Ring and Armored Core 6. The fact that these games are available on both consoles and PCs is another factor that has contributed to their success.
According to KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, the total gaming market in Japan was worth about 2 trillion yen in 2021. This included console hardware and software, smartphone games, and PC games. PC games accounted for 7% of this total, which is an impressive figure. This growth is likely due to several factors, including the lack of availability of PS5 consoles, the increase in indie games, and the rise of Steam’s popularity in Japan.
It is important to understand the different segments of the Japanese gaming market in order to create effective strategies and offerings. Understanding these different segments will help developers target the right audience and maximize profits. In addition, it is important to consider the different gaming preferences and motivations of each segment. For example, Free Gamers are more interested in social and cooperative gameplay, while Hardcore Gamers prefer to focus on competitive gameplay.
