Japanese Games Are Successful Because They Can Only Be Developed In Japan, Says Ex-PlayStation Boss

Expert Verified By

Yoshida Says Japanese Games Do Well Because They Embrace Local Culture.

Story Highlight
  • The former PlayStation boss, Shuhei Yoshida, says that Japanese games are successful because they can only be developed in Japan.
  • He clarifies that Japanese titles are popular because they embrace their unique and local culture, which appeals to gamers globally.
  • Yoshida also argues that copying other formulas will not help your games succeed, as players want unique elements to experience. 

Many of the Japanese studios have seen immense growth over the years. The games produced in the land of the rising sun have proven to be quite popular in the entire gaming industry, and the ex-PlayStation boss argues that it’s because of a very simple fact.

He claims that Japanese games are simply successful because they can only be developed in the country by locals who understand their culture very well. 

Why it matters: Shuhei Yoshida claims that Japanese games have been so popular in the industry because they embrace their local culture instead of trying to westernize or generalize for everyone.

Like a Dragon is a popular Japanese franchise that is renowned worldwide. 

In an interview with PlayStation Inside, Shuhei Yoshida elaborates that the Japanese industry was saved because it embraced what made it stand out amid the crowd and presented its identity to the world. 

the recipe for the rediscovered success of Japanese video games is to have been able to return to the development of games that can only be made in Japan, by Japanese people. 

For those not in the know, the Japanese gaming scene severely declined during the PS3 era, when many local developers chased Western trends. However, NieR: Automata—released in 2017—finally turned things around for the local industry.

The action RPG was successful because it embraced Japanese storytelling that massively appealed to gamers; promoting local culture has become a norm for Japanese developers since.

Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the few Western games that capture the Japanese essence.

Shuhei Yoshida also adds that no studios can succeed by copying other formulas; instead, it’s better to introduce unique cultures to the gaming industry.

Do you think Japanese games are successful because of their local culture, or is something else making them stand out from Western titles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

EA Has Canceled Black Panther Game And Closed Cliffhanger Studios

According to a new report, EA has canceled its Black Panther game announced in 2023 and closed the studio associated with it.

Corsair Launches ONE i600 Compact Pre-Built PC

The CORSAIR ONE i600 is a compact high-performance PC featuring GeForce RTX 5080, Intel Ultra 9 CPU, dual 240mm liquid cooling, and 64GB DDR5.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Has Entered Pre-Production Phase

CD Projekt Red has just recently revealed that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, Project Orion, has entered pre-production phase.

Elden Ring Nightreign Review Roundup – FromSoftware’s Flawless Streak Broken

Elden Ring Nightreign has received its first reviews, and the game seems to be a rare dent in FromSoftware's perfect legacy.

A Variety Of Unannounced Games To Be Revealed During Xbox Showcase 2025, Says Insider

A reliable insider claims that Xbox is aiming to reveal a plethora of unannounced games during the upcoming June Xbox Showcase 2025 event.