ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

The value of the online game market in Japan amounted to **** trillion Japanese yen in 2024. Since the value does not include the sales of games that are distributed directly from other countries, the market size has declined since late 2010s despite the growing popularity of online gaming.

Makeup of the Japanese online game market

The Japanese online game market includes games for smartphones and tablets as well as games for PCs and consoles. As a breakdown of the market by segment shows, games for smartphones and tablets account for by far the largest share of the market. The two segments have different types of distribution: While smartphone and tablet games can be divided into native app games and web games, PC and console games can be divided into those distributed via operated services and those that come as packaged games. Mobile gaming is the most popular form of gaming in Japan today and consequently constitutes a much larger market, in general, than console or PC gaming.

Increasing popularity and concerns

According to an annual survey, the average time people spend playing online and social games has increased strongly compared to the mid-2010s. Several factors played a role in this development, such as the spread of smartphones and tablets during the 2010s and the heightened demand for entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data also shows that teenagers spend much more time on online and social games than people of older age groups. The increasing consumption of online games among young people has led to concerns regarding the influence of excessive online gaming, which can result in addictions and financial troubles. The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan usually counts several thousand consultations regarding online games each year, which frequently involve payments made by children without the consent of their parents.