Numbers don't lie: the demand for video games and video game consoles in Japan has dropped significantly over the past few years. But while much of the market is turning its attention to the mobile industry, Sony is trying to breathe life into the PlayStation 4 with new games.
That's what Shuhei Yoshida, the president of Sony's Worldwide Studios, told Eurogamer.net on Friday, when he was asked if reclaiming Japanese gamers was a focus for Sony. "Yes, yes. So, PlayStation 4 has amazing sales. It's selling very well outside Japan because there are amazing games made from outside Japan. It's only this year that, with Dragon Quest Heroes, Bloodborne, Final Fantasy Type 0, and Yakuza, Japanese publishers finally started to make games on the PS4 - and PS4 is showing some upward swing in Japan."
The executive also said that although the recently announced Final Fantasy VII remake wasn't necessarily a tactical move to win Japanese consumers back, he does think it could have that effect. So now we ask you: is it all about the games, or is there a bigger problem at hand? Let us know in the comments.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 14
The key to success with any console is 'games'. It doesn't matter how powerful it is or hat other features it offers, it will only be successful if it has the games to play on it. I know there are games and of course some 'big' names due as well - some very big in Japan.
I thought this years E3 had a lot of 'Japanese' games with of course Final Fantasy, The Last Guardian and Shenmue. I know some 'western' games - and I don't mean Red Dead Redemption, Gun, Call of Juarez specifically - will be well received but I doubt they are the 'System Seller' they are here.
They should focus on vita in Japan, and ps4 elsewhere
Why should they thining vita 1st party game portion in Japan anyway
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi Yup, agree, but the Namco, Capcom and Konami stuff from earlier generations can come back if it wants.
They should keep pushing the ps4 in Japan its too good not to catch on. When cross gen titles stop they will come onboard.
Completely dropping the damn PS3 would be the first step in the right direction. If developers need to start getting some 'incentive' to keep games off the console, so be it. But the only way the PS4 will have a chance to consistently start selling better is if PS3 is out of the picture.
Seems to be the more a system appeals to us in the west, the less appealing it is in Japan. To be fair though, Japanese ppl have really cutesy taste in gaming
Please watch the language -Tasuki-
Of course games matter, but could it be down to japanese lifestyle that they prefer to game on the go?
@Gamer83 yep i have said this for a while, stop the cross gen releases
@hYdeks Wow, you're still at it announcing how manly you are I see.
The problem in Japan isn't the games, it's lack of time.
@Riririn no I'm not announcing how manly I am, so stop being a prick about my opinions. I just don't respect a country that likes things like animal crossing but won't give any of the western made games a chance, and they wonder why we don't give alot of their games a chance. People can have different tastes and opinion on things
@Mrskinner
Yeah. To be fair to the developers, I get why they're doing it because PS3 has a pretty decent size userbase there now and I'm not sure how much cutting off that console will help PS4 in the long run, although I would say the impact would be more positive than negative. It's up to Sony to give them reason to drop the PS3 though. If some $ has to be ponied up, well, get the checkbook out.
@hYdeks you don't respect a whole country because of your perception of what videogames they like? I despair. You do realise the PS4 is made by a Japanese company...right?
@Picola
Nuh-uh!! If it's sold in America, it's build there. For every PS4 sold you actually hear a loud screeching sound of the proud Bald Eagle. Carrying the Stars and Stripes in its claws. Driving a '69 Mustang. Listening to Taylor Swift. On its American made iPhone. Owning a gun cause that is his Godgiven right.
@Boerewors
Lol, as an American I must say that was a great post
But you know it's REALLY made in America when it says "made in China" on the back. That's the true sign of American craftsmanship.
Considering that ps2 and ps1 were pretty popular in Japan, I don't see why ps4 can't. Japanese gamers even started to play western games on home consoles... Not because they like them, but because there is nothing else to play.
But at the same time, Japan is very busy nation, and handhelds and smartphones are better suited for busy life =).
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