Japan Sees Significant Growth in PC Gaming Market Over Four Years

Key highlights include: - Japan's PC gaming market reached $868 million in 2021, nearly doubling its 2018 value - The number of Japanese PC gamers has risen to 16 million, up from 11 million in 2015 - Approximately 4.5 million gamers exclusively play on PC, a significant increase from 2.2 million in 2015 A recent report sheds light on the substantial growth of Japan's PC gaming market, with both revenue and player numbers experiencing significant increases over a short period. According to a report by Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories, shared by Kantan Games analyst Dr. Serkan Toto, the Japanese PC gaming market was valued at ¥131.3 billion in 2021, equivalent to $868 million. This represents a substantial increase, with PC gaming now accounting for nearly 7% of Japan's overall gaming market, which was worth ¥2 trillion ($13.7 billion) in 2021. The market remains dominated by mobile gaming, with a notable console player base as well. The report indicates that the PC gaming market in 2021 is roughly double its size in 2018, mirroring the growth in player numbers. In 2021, there were 16 million PC gamers, meaning nearly 30% of Japan's 55.4 million gamers use a computer, marking a 45% increase from the 11 million reported in 2015. Notably, 4.5 million individuals exclusively play games on PC, more than double the 2.2 million PC-exclusive gamers in 2015. Toto attributes the growth of Japan's PC gaming market to several factors, including the pandemic's impact on the nation's gaming audience and the PlayStation 5 supply shortage, which may have led some gamers to invest in a PC for high-end gaming. The analyst also notes a growing acceptance of foreign and indie games via platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store, with the success of PUBG contributing to the market's growth around 2017 and 2018. Furthermore, there has been an increase in PC games developed by Japanese companies, including PC-first titles such as Final Fantasy 14 and Kantai Collection. Toto believes that PC gaming in Japan was never truly dormant and that its perceived niche status has been exaggerated. He predicts that the trend towards a larger PC gaming industry in Japan will continue in the coming years, citing Valve's statement that Japan has entered Steam's Top 10 country ranking with one of the highest growth rates worldwide.