Japan Drives Global Games Revenue

A report by Newzoo, produced in collaboration with the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), offers a detailed analysis of the Japanese gaming market in 2025. The findings highlight the unique role Japanese players play in the global games industry, generating 9.1% of global games revenue despite making up only 2.2% of the worldwide player base.

According to Newzoo, Japanese gamers contribute an average of $223 per person annually. This high spending is largely attributed to a strong cultural preference for domestic intellectual property, narrative-driven titles, and single-player role-playing games.

PC Gaming Shows Strong Growth

While console gaming remains a dominant force in Japan, the report identifies significant growth in the PC gaming sector. The PC market in Japan has grown by 16.2% year over year (in local currency), making it the fastest-growing segment. Newzoo attributes this increase to several factors:

The release of PC ports of popular Japanese franchises
The rise of cross-platform gameplay
Increased accessibility through handheld PC devices

Despite this growth, console gaming continues to maintain a strong foothold in the country. Japanese players account for 6.2% of the global console player base. Nintendo holds a particularly dominant position, capturing 70% of the local console market share.

Japan Drives Global Games Revenue

Gaming Preferences: Narrative and Competition

Japanese players exhibit a marked preference for story-driven, single-player experiences. These games often feature deep narratives and are especially popular on Nintendo platforms. However, there is also a growing interest in cooperative and competitive multiplayer titles.

Among PC players, games like Lethal Company are favored for their co-op elements. In the free-to-play market, Japanese gamers are more inclined toward player-versus-player (PvP) shooters such as Apex Legends and Counter-Strike, which are played across both PC and console platforms.

Japan Drives Global Games Revenue

A Market of High Value

Despite representing a relatively small share of the global player population, the Japanese market stands out for its high per-capita spending and strong loyalty to domestic gaming brands. The report concludes that Japan remains a vital market for both console and PC game developers, particularly those producing narrative-rich, single-player titles.

As the Japanese Windows PC gaming sector continues to grow and console loyalty remains high, game publishers and developers are likely to find valuable opportunities in catering to this market’s preferences.