10notable news items from Japan’s gaming industry between April and October 2024

Here are ten notable news items from Japan’s gaming industry between April and October 2024:

1. Nintendo’s 2024 Game Releases and Sales: Nintendo’s highly anticipated releases, including continued strong sales for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, and other titles, have solidified its standing in the market. A Nintendo Direct in June teased upcoming titles and added expansions, further elevating its console popularity in Japan (Famitsu, Gematsu).
2. Square Enix Expands with Final Fantasy Franchise: Square Enix saw success with the release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, attracting fans globally and bolstering sales on PlayStation consoles. It also announced ongoing expansions to the Final Fantasy universe, drawing significant interest at the Tokyo Game Show in September (PC Gamer, GameSpace).
3. Tokyo Game Show 2024: This year’s Tokyo Game Show highlighted both Japanese and global gaming developments, including VR innovations and collaborations among Japanese gaming giants. Companies like Bandai Namco, Sony, and Capcom presented new tech and games, gaining international media attention and player enthusiasm (PC Gamer, GamesIndustry).
4. Growth in Japan’s eSports Scene: Japan’s eSports market continued its rise, with more corporate sponsorships and events such as the annual RAGE ShadowVerse tournaments. Esports viewership in Japan is projected to continue growing significantly through 2025, with major investments from companies like NTT Docomo and Coca-Cola to support the infrastructure of leagues and events (GameSpace).
5. Bandai Namco’s Tekken 8 Success: The latest entry in the Tekken series, Tekken 8, has experienced high demand in Japan and internationally. Launched across multiple platforms, the game’s popularity has spurred a series of eSports tournaments focused on Japan, as well as expanded DLCs that have kept the fan base engaged since its launch (Famitsu).
6. Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 VR Update: Capcom released a VR adaptation of Resident Evil 4, utilizing the Meta Quest 2 headset. This has attracted VR enthusiasts, marking a substantial move into VR gaming for Capcom as they work to expand immersive gaming experiences (PC Gamer).
7. New Trends in Indie Game Development: The indie game festival BitSummit in Kyoto drew attention to Japan’s burgeoning independent game development scene. Japanese indie developers showcased unique games, and the festival underscored how smaller studios are contributing creatively and economically to Japan’s gaming landscape (PC Gamer).
8. Sony’s PlayStation 5 Sales Growth: Sony’s PlayStation 5 saw an uptick in sales in Japan, partially due to the release of exclusive titles and bundles tailored to Japanese audiences. This strengthened Sony’s foothold in the local market amid stiff competition from Nintendo’s Switch (Gematsu).
9. The Rise of Mobile Gaming in Japan: With Japan’s extensive mobile user base, mobile gaming companies have been investing in titles that appeal to diverse age groups. Companies like GungHo and Colopl have seen substantial growth, further expanding Japan’s influence on the global mobile gaming market (GamesIndustry).
10. International Collaborations at Summer Game Fest: Japan’s developers participated heavily in global events like the Summer Game Fest, showcasing Japanese-made games to international audiences. Collaborations with Western developers helped position Japanese games on a global stage and fostered cross-cultural gaming innovation (PC Gamer).

Each of these developments highlights the diverse areas of growth and change within Japan’s gaming industry, spanning console success, eSports expansion, VR adaptations, and the rise of mobile and indie games.