Mobile gaming has seen a surge in Japan, particularly because of the high penetration of mobile devices among the masses. Another reason is the busy schedule of people in Japan. The country has a rich economy, thanks to its working class, which accounts for more than half of the country’s population.
With a tight schedule, masses do not get sufficient time to invest in PCs and consoles. Hence, mobile games are popular in Japan as it is their last resort, and this is the reason of it getting so much traction among gamers.
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Although according to Statista, Japan has one of the largest working markets; people still make time to enjoy their favourite game, mostly because they are so passionate about it. The gaming community of Japan competes among the most lucrative and vibrant communities of the world, just trailing the US and China. However, considering the ratio of population, it certainly outweighs every other country on the planet.
The annual gaming business turnover of Japan exceeds billions of dollars, reflecting the influence of games on the people. Japan has given one of the most iconic franchises to the world, everybody must have played at least once in their lifetime, yes we’re talking about Mario. Games like Mario, Final Fantasy and Pokémon changed the landscape of gaming at the time of their release and brought a sensation in the gaming world. Mario is still relevant among gamers, given it was released more than 4 decades ago.
Popular titles like Mario, Final Fantasy and Pokémon gave the Japanese gaming business a global presence. Since then it is only evolving rapidly with mobile gaming dominating the whole gaming community. Therefore, if you wish to stamp your gaming business in the country, learning about the minuscule details of the gaming culture comes first.
This blog aims to illuminate you with the intricacies of the gaming market in Japan and how you can leverage BR Softech’s team of exceptional developers to ace the competitive gaming market of Japan.
To get an in-depth information please refer to this Article : The Scope of Gaming Business in Japan.
The Japanese gaming market is known for its mobile game development trends and focus on developing titles for mobiles. Because of its potential for having a hefty ROI, developers migrate towards creating titles for smartphones. We will talk about the factors that help mobile games dominate over PCs and consoles in Japan.
Japan has one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world. With almost every person owning a mobile phone, targeting mobile gamers is believed to be the best choice for developers. Japan has an on-the-go culture, meaning people do not have much leisure time. Commuters spend hours locomoting in commercial cities and utilize this time by playing games on their mobile phones.
By convenience and accessibility, gamers do not need to worry about the latest hardware and updates that are required in a PC or console. You just download the game, install it and play, it is that seamless. This factor is a big one, Japan’s market boasts casual gamers and these gamers do not like to invest in lavish consoles or updated graphics cards.
Also known as the ‘Freemium’ model, it allows users to enjoy their favorite titles without exhausting their Yen. These models do have a revenue source through in-app purchases, but they are optional and users can opt to invest just their time and not their funds. Most popular mobile games in Japan follow this model and, hence, are a big hit among gamers. Conversely, popular console and PC titles do not follow the freemium model, and require purchasing before you can enjoy them.
One of the reasons mobile gaming has become a big hit is the fast-paced culture of the Japanese. The lifestyle is too busy and people get bits and pieces of time, and in those moments the best-suited option remains only mobile gaming. These short moments include commutes, and break hours in professional life, among others where players can only opt for mobile games. These mobile games also include multiplayer options, through which players connect with their friends and create a social circle inside the game’s environment. This is a big USP of mobile games in Japan.
The Japanese market boasts a rich gaming culture that has a place for multiple genres. However, some genres are more loved by the users than other genres. We shall discuss the same in this part of the blog.
Interested in knowing the most famous gaming genre in the gaming industry? Checkout this blog: The Most Popular Gaming Genre
Japanese seem to have a thing for RPGs, they even have created a new genre revolving around RPGs and have named it JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games). These games have the concept of RPGs but club elements of Japanese culture in them. Japan’s two of the most famous titles, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest cater to players searching for RPGs.
A division of RPGs, Gacha is mostly about collecting in-game assets through a slot machine, inspired by Gachapons in Japan. Gacha games have become a new sensation among the players after the release of games like Genshin Impact and Fire Emblem. These games have become a massive success in the country and provide high ROI to the developers.
Mostly popular among female players in the country, puzzle and card games are also gaining traction. Given their ease of play and simple game mechanics, these games attract casual gamers and satisfy their requirements. These games do not require any skill and are easy to pick up.
Japanese expect multiple outcomes from the games they play. Apart from casual gamers who indulge in card games, other players focus on the storyline, graphics, and other aspects of the game they are playing. Some of the trends and preferences of Japanese game enthusiasts are mentioned below.
Japanese are fascinated by rich storytelling and want characters with depth inside the game. They like to invest their time in games that have a narrative and are filled with complex characters. And this is the main reason for the RPGs to have become the market leaders in the country. If it has a connection with their culture, then it’s a big plus point.
Japanese pay a lot of attention to the aesthetics and graphics of the game. The better the UI of the game, the more chances it has to become successful. The audience has a thing for anime, and games involving aesthetically pleasing animated scenes help users relate more and like the game in a better way. Genshin Impact boasted a rich world with eye-pleasing characters and environments, the work on the graphics was top-notch, which made the game so popular among the masses.
Another big factor affecting gamers in Japan is the amalgamation of social and multiplayer features in the game. Most casual players, while starting a new game, look out for these two functions. It is a prerequisite for casual gamers in Japan, they like to have an online community where they can chat with their friends while playing the game, saving a lot of their time. These games promote social bonding, as the multiplayer function allows players to team up and take on enemies and complete missions together.
Setting your foot in the Japanese market without any research can have repercussions. Understanding the deep-rooted Japanese culture in the gaming industry, preferences of users, market trends, and lifestyle of people is a must before delving into the Japanese gaming industry. If this seems too much for you, BR Softech comes into the picture, where they already have a deep understanding of the gaming market in Japan.
Leveraging BR Softech’s experience in the domain, you can help your business grow seamlessly in the Japanese market. Some of the key features of the agency are mentioned below for you to understand why BR Softech can be the best choice for you.
BR Softech has a vast research of the market under its wings, and the team here knows all the intricate details of the market. This knowledge can help you streamline your target audience and the genre of the game you wish to develop. The team knows the ins and outs of the Japanese audience and their behavior patterns, which ultimately can help you in designing the payment models of the game.
The team of developers at BR Softech has hands-on experience in creating apps for the Japanese market. They have crossed the trial-and-error phase and know what works and what does not work in the gaming community of Japan. The developers know the narrative style, social features, and game mechanics preferred by the audience.
The company holds a rich portfolio of games developed for the local audience. Development of games for mobile phones is their magnum opus, however, they equally excel at creating any kind of games, be it for PCs or consoles. Their specialty in creating RPGs, Gacha, and puzzle games ensures a profitable gaming business for its clients.
A good scope in the gaming market comes with good competition. Now, if you plan to dive into the world of online gaming in Japan, you must understand that there is a lot of competition in the industry. Having said that, managing things in a streamlined way and choosing the right options can help you boost your way through the competition.
By keeping certain things in mind, like choosing the right genre, platform, and most of all the right game development company, you can have an edge in the market. BR Softech can help you tackle all the challenges and put you ahead of your competition.
Mobile gaming has the upper hand among Japanese gamers primarily because of the high penetration of smartphones, easy accessibility of games, and use of freemium models in mobile games.
The most popular game genres among the Japanese include Role-playing Games, Gacha Games, and casual games including puzzle and cards.
Japanese audience focus on characters in the game having depth, a compelling storyline along with aesthetically pleasing gameplay. Apart from these primary elements, social features such as live chat are also preferred by gamers.
Japanese gamers prefer mobile games over PCs and consoles. However, global gaming market thrives on PCs and consoles. Gacha mechanics, and social features are considered as profound in games unlike gaming communities in the west that do not have any emotional attachment to Gacha mechanics.
Mobile gaming is expected to thrive in the upcoming years in the country, especially in the RPG sector. With the advent of technologies like 5G, Artificial Intelligent, Artificial Reality, Blockchain and Augmented Reality, mobile gaming is expected to see a surge in the near future.
