A Journey Through Pixels: The Evolution of Japanese Gaming
In Japan, gaming is not merely a commercial enterprise but rather a fundamental element of contemporary Japanese culture. This statement may seem exaggerated, but there are factual grounds to support it. To illustrate, in Japan, people spend approximately 6.7 hours per week playing mobile video games. Additionally, it is estimated that roughly 70 million people in Japan can be classified as “gamers” based on the dictionary definition of the term.
This should come as no surprise given that Japan is an epicenter for the video game business, with a number of gaming titans located there, including Konami, Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and many others. These companies have been critical to the evolution of video games, and we believe they will play an even greater role in the future.
How It All Began
Although Japan did not invent the first computer game, it did produce a number of games that are now regarded as classics. Many believe 1973 to be the founding year of the Japanese game industry. It was also the year when Konami was created, as well as the release of games such as Atari’s Pong and Space Race. The industry really took off five years later. The popularity of Japanese games skyrocketed following the release of Space Invaders in early 1978, followed by Donkey Kong and Pac-Man a few months later.
The year 1983 will be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of the Japanese gaming industry. That is when Nintendo began selling the Nintendo Entertainment System (NEC) and Sega released the SG-1000 console. The Sega Genesis was released for the first time in 1988, and it quickly became a big success both domestically and abroad. The Super Nintendo was released in 1990, while the Sony PlayStation was released in 1994.
Decline & Reemergence in the Early 2000s
Japan ruled the world of gaming through the 90s and into the new century. In 2002, the Japanese gaming industry was responsible for almost 50% of the global market share. Then, it rapidly dropped to just 10% over the next couple of years. The rise of Microsoft’s Xbox and subsequent investment into gaming offered a new challenge to the established Japanese companies.
It struck rock bottom in 2010, prompting industry leaders to look for ways to get back in the game. Around this point, all of the big Japanese gaming firms began to focus more on producing games that would be highly regarded not only in Japan but also internationally. Numerous games had huge success, the most notable being Pokémon GO.
This smartphone augmented reality game, released in 2016, put Japan back on the map for video game enthusiasts. In its first year, it received hundreds of millions of downloads and was the third most talked about subject on Twitter. Pokémon GO grabbed the world by storm, quickly becoming the most popular game in nations such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The mania lasted for years, and it experienced a comeback during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even now, Pokémon GO is one of the most downloaded games, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. Many other Japanese games, such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Animal Crossing, will probably certainly stay popular in the coming years.
Bright Future for Japanese Gaming?
No one can predict the future, but we believe we have a fair sense of where the Japanese gaming industry will be by the end of the decade. During the next few years, we anticipate seeing some major gaming businesses focus more on Japanese online casinos. The truth is, all indications point to the country being more gambling-friendly in the near future.
One example is that there are plans to build multiple integrated resorts throughout Japan. The Integrated Resorts Implementation Act was passed in the summer of 2018, indicating that the construction of Japanese IRs is well underway. Furthermore, there are reports that Japanese legislators are considering legalizing online sports betting and casino gambling in a few years.
Aside from online gambling, the sector is expected to grow in virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse. They may begin developing games exclusively for VR systems, as well as open-world multiplayer games in which gamers can live a “second life.” Whatever the next great thing in the gaming world is, you can bet that the Japanese play a major role. After all, they were instrumental in getting things started in the 1970s.
