Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Online gaming in Japan - statistics & facts
Online gaming has reached an unprecedented level of popularity in Japan. Next to the spread of smartphones and tablets during the 2010s, which have made it easier for people to play games regardless of their location, the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in increasing people鈥檚 engagement with online games. This development is exemplified by annual survey data, which shows that the average time people spend on playing online and social games has increased considerably compared to the mid-2010s. Although the PC game market grew strongly in recent years, mobile gaming continues to be the most popular form of gaming in Japan today and constitutes a larger market than console gaming and PC gaming combined. This situation also extends to the online game market.
