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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Japan’s PC gaming industry continues to grow.

Just before Tokyo Game Show 2024 started last week, Japan’s Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) shared data showing how rapidly the sector in this country has been expanding.

According to CESA, Japan’s PC gaming market almost tripled in size from 2019 to 2023, reaching US$1.6B last year.

(The number may sound low in dollar terms, but note the Japanese yen has been extremely weak over the last years and still is.)

Here is a chart based on CESA’s data (software only):

CESA also says that the PC accounted for 13% of the size of Japan’s gaming market overall in 2023 (US$12.7B) vs just 5% in 2019 (when the overall market was at US$10.4B).

What’s interesting further is that the specific market share for consoles has been staying solid at around 20% since 2019, mainly due to the incredible success of the Nintendo Switch in Japan.

Japan’s PC Gaming Market Size Triples In 4 Years – Kantan Games Inc. CEO Blog – From Tokyo, Japan

www.serkantoto.com

 

[Hohenheim]

Very nice. This will make sure even more japanese games will come to Steam day 1 in the coming years.

 

[SmokedMeat]

 

[Kotaro]

PlayStation market is disappearing slowly there, soon there will only be Nintendo and PC

 

[atyourservice]

I wonder if there's any region on earth seeing a decrease in PC market size recently. Just seems to be going up and up worldwide
Maybe one of the current warzones with trade restrictions or something

 

[DeepEnigma]

Have you seen all the waifu/pantsu shit on Steam? No wonder Japan's birthrate numbers and nobody is actually fucking are in major decline.

 

[Fabieter]

Every Japanese game is officially on pc besides Nintendo so no surprise.

 

[proandrad]

I wonder how much is the is due to pc handhelds. Japan loves portables.

 

[HogIsland]

Nintendo should join in.

 

[Generic]

There's still hope for Senran Kagura 7!

 

[Doggyred]

PlayStation market is disappearing slowly there, soon there will only be Nintendo and PC

First Japan, than the world.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Great to hear. I've been gaming on PC since 2015 and as a result I hardly play my consoles other than Switch

 

[Sentenza]

Very nice. This will make sure even more japanese games will come to Steam day 1 in the coming years.

It's already basically everyone except Vanillaware at this point.
And maybe the occasional Sony moneyhat for some timed exclusive.

 

[Holammer]

I wonder how much is the is due to pc handhelds. Japan loves portables.

A niche PC audience and a history of micros and computers was already there (this is where Touhou started), but I think the insane success of PUBG's changed the perception of the PC among general users in Japan. It got the ball rolling and Japanese developers increasingly find success on PC.
There was a time when the thought of fighting games on PC was completely alien, now it's considered 100% natural and a source of a good chunk of the sales.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

I may be wrong but I wonder if the the majority are playing GAAS, Gacha and Waifu simulator games on PC.

 

[atyourservice]

Excerpt of Japan's steam stats.
Most amount of time spent in top 100 best sellers list:

GTA V (9.8 years)
Dead by Daylight (8.4 years)
Apex Legends (3.9 years)
Monster Hunter Rise (2.8 years)
Yu-Gi-Oh duel (2.7 years)
Rust (2.6 years)
Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation (1.5 years)

Honestly, Dbd and Yugioh are the only odd games there

 

[tmlDan]

the GAAS takeover that everyone hates is here

 

[Senua]

I may be wrong but I wonder if the the majority are playing GAAS, Gacha and Waifu simulator games on PC.

the GAAS takeover that everyone hates is here

Project downplay, GO

 

[MayauMiao]

Kind of explains why recently I begin to see more Japanese games on Steam.

 

[Little Chicken]

Incredible to see Microsoft Family of Devices being so popular in Japan!

 

[SmokedMeat]

the GAAS takeover that everyone hates is here

Eh, Sony’s trying but we thankfully have a billion other options on PC.

 

[tmlDan]

Eh, Sony’s trying but we thankfully have a billion other options on PC.

all the top games in the world are GAAS or live service, predominantly played on PC....

We do have options on PC, but thats still a fact.

 

[Topher]

Incredible to see Steam being so popular in Japan!

ftfy

 

[rodrigolfp]

Incredible to see Microsoft Family of Devices being so popular in Japan!

None of those devices are from MS. Xp

 

[rodrigolfp]

all the top games in the world are GAAS or live service, predominantly played on PC....

We do have options on PC, but thats still a fact.

Dota, Lol, CS are not Gaas nor live services.

 

[Mister Wolf]

They making smart moves over there.

 

[killatopak]

Dota, Lol, CS are not Gaas nor live services.

What? What are they then?

 

[BennyBlanco]

Organic growth

 

[Bojanglez]

PlayStation market is disappearing slowly there, soon there will only be Nintendo and PC

...and Firestick

 

[rodrigolfp]

What? What are they then?

Games with a multiplayer component. Same as Quake 3, UT...

 

[Little Chicken]

None of those devices are from MS. Xp

We all know they aren't running Linux as their OS.

They're running Windows 11 which comes with Xbox app and Game Pass for PC app... that's like three Microsoft Family platforms in one!!!!

 

[rodrigolfp]

We all know they aren't running Linux as their OS.

They're running Windows 11 which comes with Xbox app and Game Pass for PC app... that's like three Microsoft Family platforms in one!!!!

PC is the platform. They can run only Linux and the OS only doesn't make it a MS platform. Just as a Nvidia card doesn'tt make it a Nvidia platform.

 

[Little Chicken]

Please change the title to Japan's Xbox Game Pass app market size triples in four years.

 

[Topher]

We all know they aren't running Linux as their OS.

They're running Windows 11 which comes with Xbox app and Game Pass for PC app... that's like three Microsoft Family platforms in one!!!!

Meanwhile the vast majority are ignoring that stuff and downloading Steam

 

[killatopak]

Games with a multiplayer component. Same as Quake 3, UT...

Quake 3 and UT doesn’t have continuous online support in exchange for monetary value. The same way Tekken 3 isn’t gaas while Tekken 8 is via selling you individual characters, stages or season passes.

Basically a gaas game doesn’t end until it cannot monetarily support itself. Non-gaas games do have an end.

 

[Little Chicken]

PC is the platform. They can run only Linux and the OS only doesn't make it a MS platform. Just as a Nvidia card doesn'tt make it a Nvidia platform.

PC running Microsoft Windows should be the terminology used from now on.

 

[hinch7]

Makes sense. A lot of games are getting PC ports out faster these days, if not day one. And PlayStation getting more and more expensive + moving away from their types of games. Another reason why Nintendo Switch is king and dominating in the east.

Microsoft and Xbox going hybrid would a smart choice going forward, if they go the route. I wouldn't be surprised if they catch up or daresay surpass PlayStation next generation (in Japan); if they release a semi decent PC/console. The handheld in particular.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Quake 3 and UT doesn’t have continuous online support in exchange for monetary value. The same way Tekken 3 isn’t gaas while Tekken 8 is via selling you individual characters, stages or season passes.

Basically a gaas game doesn’t end until it cannot monetarily support itself. Non-gaas games do have an end.

What they sell or not is irrelevant. Those games can be played offline (maybe not LoL) and/or on my own servers.

 

[Alexios]

Thanks, Epic Games Store

 

[killatopak]

What they sell or not is irrelevant. Those games can be played offline and/or on my own servers.

It is completely relevant. GaaS is not about how a game can be played or what method. It is a business model not a genre nor does it need to be strictly SP or MP. They’re selling you their service. Candy Crush for example is gaas and it is an SP game.

 

[Zathalus]

Dota, Lol, CS are not Gaas nor live services.

Free to play games releasing new content with continuous ongoing development that is supported by in game monetisation fees. 100% GaaS games. Some of the most profitable and famous GaaS games for that matter. Just because you can play offline and on your LAN for some of them does not exclude them from the GaaS model.

 

[Danjin44]

Vanillaware:

 

[willothedog]

Dota, Lol, CS are not Gaas nor live services.

Why are those three titles given as examples on the GaaS Wiki page then

 

[BennyBlanco]

Vanillaware:

Played both 13 Sentinels and Unicorn Overlord on PC

 

[Crayon]

The pc-centric gaming stores and departments are looking pretty good these days. Most I've seen have a good enthusiast-focused vibe to them.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Maybe this will be a better chance someone will buy my 4070 and give me a few more bucks to apply to the 5090.

 

[rodrigolfp]

It is completely relevant. GaaS is not about how a game can be played or what method. It is a business model not a genre nor does it need to be strictly SP or MP. They’re selling you their service. Candy Crush for example is gaas and it is an SP game.

By that logic Quake World, CoD, L4D, etc receiving new maps/modes or any game with expansion like Diablo 2 and Witcher 3 were/are GAAS too.

 

[Holammer]

Played both 13 Sentinels and Unicorn Overlord on PC

Tried some Odin Sphere with shadPS4 before.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Why are those three titles given as examples on the GaaS Wiki page then

Because anyone can write anything there.

 

[Sentenza]

Tried some Odin Sphere with shadPS4 before.

I've been reading about this PS4 emulator for a while (mostly because of the fast progress on emulating Bloodborne) but I have yet to give it any actual try.

Is it relatively painless to set up?
I'm also wondering if it can work hooking up my legit PSN account. It would be nice to be able to download my PSN digital purchases directly on PC and emulate shit.