Sony recently announced at a press event that the PS4 would release during February of 2014 in Japan, 3 months after the Western market release in November 2013. The represents a big shift from every other Sony console release, all of which have launched either before or simultaneously to Western markets.
Yet the strategy is symptomatic of a broader trend in the Japanese gaming market that has been developing over the last decade. While we tend to associate Japan with a strong gaming market and Sony’s consoles have traditionally done well at home, the world’s largest consumers of console video games are far and away Western audiences, particularly in the US.
For a land that is home to some of the world’s biggest tech giants and innovators, Japanese gamers have, for some time, been slow to adopt the latest gaming hardware. When the HD generation arrived, the 'new' high-def PS3 was outsold steadily by the much older PS2 for nearly two years while the Xbox 360 failed completely to capture consumer attention. The same was the case with the launch of the PSVita in 2011, which has been playing second fiddle in sales to the PSP in face of attempts to reverse the PSVita's fortunes.
In recent years, the main battles for video game supremacy have been fought between US and European game studios, while big releases from Japanese studios have been relatively few. The makeup of Sony’s wholly owned studios is telling. Of its major holdings, six are based in North America with a further five in Europe. This compares to just two major studio holdings in Japan, SCE Japan and Polyphony Digital.
In 2010, legendary Japanese game creator Keiji Inafune was lamenting the decline of the Japanese gaming market, stating Japanese developers were creating ‘awful’ games. More recently, Hideo Kojima, the mind behind the lauded Metal Gear series, stated Japanese studios needed to emulate their Western counterparts, or be left behind. There has in recent times been an obvious shift in both attitudes and gameplay trends to accommodate Western tastes in Japanese gaming.
But Japanese studios are still making some of console gaming’s most sought after franchises and original titles, despite what we might think. Metal Gear, Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter and Mario games all attract huge attention and sales when their latest iterations arrive.
But Sony, and other gaming giants for that matter, recognise that when it comes to consoles, Japan is now a secondary market compared to the US and European territories. Interestingly, the announcement of the PS4’s release date in Japan also coincided with the reveal of a new, cheaper, slimmer PSVita, as well as the micro-console PSVita TV. This is significant in that it represents large players recognising the handheld and casual market as a greater force in Japan as opposed to home consoles tethered to people’s TV’s.
Inafune and co. may have been right to note that there has been a general decline in Japan’s console market compared to the heady days of the PS2, however, in recent years, the overall gaming market has actually boomed in Japan. This growth spurt has been triggered by mobile gaming and the rapid adoption of smart phones. Dominated by casual and indie studios, Sony are clearly making a push for this segment with Xperia phones, Playstation Mobile, renewed focus on the PSVita and now PSVita TV.
But console gamers can still breathe a sigh of relief. The next generation of consoles has in Japan, and the rest of the world, still fired up the collective gaming imaginations of all the major players. We will still see amazing console games made in Japan for Sony’s, Microsoft’s and Nintendo’s consoles this generation.
Just don’t be surprised if they feel a bit more...Western.
During Sony’s recent business segment meeting and investor presentation regarding its game and network services, the PlayStation company revealed that PlayStation 5 is the company’s “most profitable generation to-date.”
It’s the top slide of the presentation, showing that in its first four years, the PS5 generation has already hit $106 billion in sales, having almost caught up to the PS4’s total $107 billion generated.
Operating income for the PS5 generation has also already surpassed that of the PS4, having now reached $10 billion.
I wouldn't doubt it. They released a high quality system. A lot of high quality games from themselves and their support of 3rd party developers and indies. They released many high quality remakes and remasters. They released a high quality GaaS game going against the naysayers thinking Sony would abandon single player games. And they most likely are profiting a lot more than PS1, PS2 PS4 and the loss leading PS3 that drained all their profits.
Now, I'll wait to see what's cooking tomorrow. But can you use some of those profits to better support your high quality VR headset? Because, by supporting it, you can sell more games and more systems and make more profits?
If it had some rpgs I would buy right fking now. It looks dope and alot of fun, but it's biggest game resident evil 4(maybe) I've got no interest in. I'm not a fan of racing games, even with that metro game coming i was never much into that series. Rpgs would be fantastic.
This will surely shut up all the new trolling accounts trying to spread lies and non facts in other articles comment sections before this article is posted.
Wow! I am super impressed that in just 4 years, ps5 already caught up to the PS4's. Congratulations.
Since launching in October 2023, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has sold 11 million copies.
This is bad for them as we know they were already in marvel hell with there schedule but now they are never getting out with these sales.
Some poor sob over there is like hey can we do infamous remaster collection? then gets yelled at thrown to a desk made to work on spiderman 3 or some shit for the the next 3 years.
This also gave sweet baby inc more support they helped with the sotry and she hulk aka marry jane so why not make the next spiderman game with gwen but her powers only work after she attends lgbqt rallies fear the power of queer right's bad guys.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Just had a thought make a new super hero with the power of rainbows that come out of the wrist jerk of men to supercharge the attack.
"These sales" like it's a tiny number? It's sold what Spiderman 1 did on the PS4 in the same timeframe and that was labelled a huge success and there was 100 million PS4s out there at that time...compared to 50m PS5. Selling the same amount is nothing short of amazing. What a strange post
Wow sound the trumpit defend them asap right?
I know 2023 was along time ago but there was a ransomware attack remember?
https://www.polygon.com/240...
So yeah they are marvel game maker slaves
"these sales" means these sales there could have been a slight tiny glimmer of hope they might make something else instead of another spiderman game with the same combat same map same dei story but nope they are now defiantly going to make another one.
and yes sweetbabyinc helped with the story/characters
https://sweetbabyinc.com/
But i get it everyone loves the nerfed bitch version of parker sense very few played/watched anything before the Spectacular days were over.
“…make a new super hero with the power of rainbows that come out of the wrist jerk of men to supercharge the attack.”
Wow! Anyways…
@Just_lookin
LOL
What did I just read? This news is hitting you hard. I just wish I could watch your face as you typed your homophobic rant. Also, maybe an English class would be time well spent.
On Topic:
Congrats to Insomniac.
House of Mouse be looking at that upcoming Blade game with certain expectations.....
If we look past the fact you're just making up a bunch of BS, we can see very clearly your comment is immature and reeks of insecurities. It's pure trolling and adds nothing to the conversation so just give it a rest.
Why would insomniac want to do a infamous remaster collection if Sucker Punch are the original developers?
With a game called Spider-Man and made by Insomniac………..is anyone really surprised??? Congrats to them on their continued excellence in game crafting.
Congrats to insomniac on another hit showing proof that it was a right move to be acquired by Sony unlike others developers getting closed or afraid of going on the chopping block.
And still not profitable. Yikes.
Good deal for Marvel though. 50% cut of everything, zero work.
“Brand new trolling account just made... YIKES”
Pay no mind to the obscured observer his account will be deleted as soon as the article go to the front page as his usualSPAM accounts 🤣
Well come on..enlighten us, Marvellepus, show us these facts. Bring us the financial loss..lets hear it.
@MarvellepusOBSCUREDOBSERVER “And still not profitable. Yikes.”
What is profitable in your OBSCURED eyes?
Lol he got annoyed that people called out he spends his time making troll accounts.
Ummmm....maybe even better? We guaranteed a decent Wolverine game and with the success of Xmen 94 the franchise has now entrenched itself with a younger audience. My kids stopped watching 94 and went back to the OG series and they love it.
The Outerhaven lists each and every upcoming Soulslike title that is either being released or supposedly being released in 2024. This list includes Another Crab’s Treasure, Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn, Phantom Blade Zero, and more.
I agree with you for the most part, but I think it has more to do with the MS being somewhat of a threat in the NA. In Japan, it's ruled by Sony and Nintendo. So later on, I'm betting the PS4 will start to really trot out those Japanese 3rd party exclusives.
MS and Sony are treating Japan like a third world country market.
It just goes to show how much the focus has shifted over the gens from a Japan centric industry to a almost completely westernized industry.
Just compare the sales figures of the USA, EU and Japan markets to see that the West is where the money is.
Also another interesting observation would be that the 360 is more or less on par with the PS3 in worldwide sales even if they hardly exist in Japan. They've sold about 1 million consoles to date in Japan when WW numbers are sitting at 80 million. They managed to keep pace with the PS3 though Sony were more or less successful overthere. In other words to the 360 Japan was a completely irrelevant market. If Japan was to sink into the sea it wouldnt change a damn thing for the Xbox.
Now imagine such a scenario in the USA or EU and your console is dead before even launching ... just goes to show where the focus is and Sony know that damn well.
America is Xbox strongest market, so it's wise of Sony to try and make a mark there as soon as possible.
Also home consoles aren't as popular as they used to in Japan, many prefer handhelds, so a delayed launch there might not be too big a deal.
So most likely a strategic move on Sony's part, since they might have limited stock at launch. It will be interesting to see how Japanese gamers react though...
Edit: And looking at the latest news Sony says that the february launch also will help them have more Japanese market orientated games ready, so they do get some benefits too...
PS products/consoles are selling better in the western market plus Japan moved towards on the go gaming.