The Simultaneous Expansion of the Smartphone, Consumer, and PC Gaming Markets and the Culture of Watching Games
First written in FY2018-Q4. 3 of 19 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2022. Latest entry: FY2026.
No other company in this theme has enough history to compare yet.
- FY2026Market expansion driven by new game consoles and diverse PC titlesAnnual report
「In the consumer gaming market, numerous new releases have been launched alongside the spread of new game consoles, driving the market as a whole. In the PC gaming market, the share of free-to-play (F2P) in-game monetization models in revenue is increasing, while a broad range of new releases, from indie titles to AAA titles, continues to expand the market.」
The Company explained that the consumer market continues to expand through new game consoles and new releases, while the PC market continues to expand on the back of F2P models and diverse titles ranging from indie games to AAA titles. - FY2026-H1Market recovery and expansion by platformAnnual report
「The mobile game market has remained flat since bottoming out after the stay-at-home demand period. New titles based on various IP have been released and have gained broad popularity on the strength of their fan bases. The consumer market has become more active, with many new titles released and announced alongside the launch of new hardware. The PC game market is expanding through AAA titles released across multiple platforms and a variety of new IP emerging from independent titles, and is approaching the same scale as the consumer market.」
The description became more specific, moving from the previous view of simultaneous expansion across multiple platforms to a market structure with differences by platform: a flat mobile market, a console market stimulated by new hardware, and an expanding PC market, including through new intellectual property. - FY2025-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the smartphone game market, downloads are increasing and recovering from the post-pandemic correction, but in-game spending has not recovered and the market remains flat. In the consumer market, hardware adoption has stabilized and the market has remained smaller than in the previous year as attention focuses on next-generation consoles.」
Regarding the theme of market expansion across multiple platforms, the company summarized that smartphone downloads were recovering while in-game spending had not yet recovered, and that the console market had declined from the previous year. - FY2024Online purchases exceed half; market expansionAnnual report
「In the consumer market, the market has remained firm alongside the wider adoption of new hardware and continued attention to developments involving next-generation consoles. The release of new titles has also supported the market, while the fact that online game purchases, including downloads, came to account for more than half of all purchases after the stay-at-home period has contributed to growth in the user base.」
The company summarized that, in contrast to the smartphone market, where in-app purchases were still recovering, the spread of new hardware and online purchases in the console market was supporting growth in the user population. - FY2024-Q2Expansion of online purchasesAnnual report
「The increase in online game purchases, including downloads, following the period of staying at home also contributed to growth in the user population.」
The company newly specified that the increase in online purchases, including downloads, following the period of staying at home has contributed to growth in the game user population as a factor supporting market expansion. - FY2024-Q1The smartphone market's pullback and the console market's steady expansion occurring simultaneouslyAnnual report
「In the smartphone game market, interest in game apps remains high based on download trends for new titles and other games. However, as the user population declines following the pullback from the COVID-19 boom, competition is intensifying, and only a limited number of new titles are able to acquire and retain a sufficiently large user base. In the console market, continued hardware penetration and the emergence of hit titles are supporting steady market expansion.」
The smartphone game market showed a pullback and a decline in the user population, while the console market continued to expand steadily on the back of hardware penetration and hit titles. The differences in market conditions by platform became clearer. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In the smartphone game market, although the effects of the pullback are evident, leading titles continue to retain users steadily and new titles showing strong growth are also emerging. In the console market, multiple hit titles have appeared, and the market is expanding steadily as shortages of new hardware are gradually easing. The PC game population is also continuing to grow, driven by demand to play popular overseas titles on high-end machines.」
Compared with the previous quarter, which described a flat domestic market and a slight decline in the global market, the company provided specific details on the growth of new titles, steady expansion in the console market and expansion of the PC game population. - FY2023-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the game industry, as various leisure industries recover, the domestic market is broadly flat and the global market has seen a slight decline, although long-term expansion is expected to continue.」
The domestic game market was described as broadly flat and the global market as slightly down, indicating weaker short-term conditions than the previous trend of market expansion. The outlook for long-term expansion, however, remains intact. - FY2022WorsenedAnnual report
「In the game industry, as new lifestyles arising during the COVID-19 pandemic became part of everyday life, the domestic market has settled after the pullback from the stay-at-home demand surge.」
The expansion of Japan's domestic game market has moderated following the pullback from the stay-at-home demand surge, while users remain concentrated on leading established titles and new titles continue to face difficulty achieving success. - FY2021RestatedAnnual report
「In the smartphone game market, new hit titles are emerging, including new titles using well-known intellectual property and titles from overseas developed for multiple platforms. The market continues to expand while forming a diverse range of genres.」
The company continued to describe game market expansion driven by smartphone games, overseas titles, cross-platform releases and hits in the console market. - FY2021-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「The console market has also seen many new hits, particularly in popular series, and sales of various dedicated game consoles remain strong. In addition, with next-generation consoles being launched, renewed excitement is expected as compatible new titles are released.」
The company described the emergence of new hits in the console market, strong sales of dedicated game consoles, and the launch of next-generation consoles as specific developments in the market. - FY2021-Q1Expectations for next-generation consoles and new titlesAnnual report
「In addition, with next-generation consoles being announced, renewed excitement is expected as compatible new titles are released.」
The company newly provided specific details on expectations for next-generation console announcements and the release of compatible new titles as factors supporting game market expansion. - FY2020RestatedAnnual report
「Regarding the impact of COVID-19, use of online content increased as people stayed home, game app downloads also rose, and packaged titles continued to sell steadily.」
The company continued to describe increased use of online content and game app downloads, together with steady packaged-title sales, as factors supporting market expansion during the pandemic. - FY2020-Q3Online game demand increased during the pandemicAnnual report
「Regarding the impact of COVID-19, use of online content increased as people refrained from going out, game app downloads also rose, and packaged titles continued to sell steadily.」
The company explained that, amid the impact of COVID-19, use of online content and game app downloads increased, while sales of packaged titles remained steady. Changes in demand during the pandemic became an additional factor supporting game market expansion. - FY2020-Q1Greater focus on market drivers from major titles and next-generation consolesAnnual report
「In the console and PC game markets, many highly anticipated titles, including new releases as well as established popular titles, have been launched, and sales of various dedicated game consoles are also strong.」
The company provided specific details on factors supporting the expansion of the console and PC game markets, including highly anticipated titles, including new releases, strong sales of dedicated game consoles, the continued strategy of launching major titles, new platforms and next-generation consoles. - FY2019-Q4Focus on new game distribution platformsAnnual report
「In the PC game market, the growing penetration of overseas titles is increasing the player population and having a positive reciprocal effect on the console market. In addition, developments involving new game distribution platforms are attracting attention.」
The company described the growth in the PC game player population driven by the penetration of overseas titles, the spillover effect on the console market, and developments involving new game distribution platforms as factors supporting market expansion. - FY2019-Q2Greater focus on overseas PC games and gaming PCs as market driversAnnual report
「In the PC game market, the growing penetration of popular overseas PC game titles and the lower barriers to purchasing gaming PCs are increasing the player population and positively affecting sales of overseas titles in Japan's console market. In addition, as the environment for livestreaming and watching gameplay improves, its influence on the adoption and evaluation of titles is increasing further.」
The company provided specific details on the expansion factors for the game market, including the growing penetration of popular overseas PC games, the increase in the player population as gaming PCs become more widespread, and the spillover effect on sales of overseas titles in Japan. It also continued to emphasize the impact of livestreaming and gameplay viewing on title adoption and evaluation. - FY2019-Q1Greater focus on overseas titles and livestream viewing as market driversAnnual report
「In the game industry, the smartphone, console and PC game markets are all expanding. In smartphone games, releases of titles originally available on other platforms are attracting new users. In the console market, hardware sales remain strong alongside popular titles, while the PC game market is broadening with the release of a variety of popular multiplayer titles. As more titles are released for worldwide audiences, overseas titles are also becoming increasingly prominent in Japan. In addition, as the environment for livestreaming and watching gameplay improves, its influence on the adoption and evaluation of titles is increasing.」
While continuing to describe market expansion across all platforms, the company newly provided specific details on titles aimed at worldwide audiences, the growing prominence of overseas titles in Japan, and the impact of livestreaming and gameplay viewing on title adoption and evaluation. - FY2018-Q4First statedAnnual report
「In the game industry, the smartphone, console and PC game markets are all expanding. In smartphone games, releases of titles originally available on other platforms and similar developments are attracting new game users and bringing more users into the market, while the market itself continues to grow. In the console market, hardware sales are strong alongside popular titles, and the PC game market is broadening with the emergence and growing popularity of a variety of titles, including multiplayer games. The spread of a culture of watching gameplay is also contributing to growth in the number of game users.」
The company described for the first time in a consolidated manner how the expansion of the smartphone, console and PC game markets, cross-platform releases, multiplayer titles and the culture of watching gameplay are expanding the user base.