Japanese youths favor consoles as top gaming platform -report

A recent report by Niko Partners unveiled intriguing insights into the preferences and behaviors of young gamers in Japan. The study’s findings highlight the dominant role of gaming consoles among the younger demographic and shed light on their attitudes towards different gaming platforms. 

The annual “Japan Youth Gamers” report revealed a significant trend: consoles have emerged as the preferred gaming platform for young gamers in Japan. Among the surveyed group of more than 300 gamer-parents of ages 6 to 18, an overwhelming 72.3% favored gaming on consoles, with mobile gaming coming in second at 63.5%. In contrast, a mere 14.7% of respondents indicated playing games on PCs. 

The study highlighted that parents of young gamers in Japan tend to favor consoles as well- due to the enhanced control and visibility they offer over gaming content, especially in comparison to other platforms. This insight sheds light on the role of parents in shaping their children’s gaming experiences. 

Gamers displayed an average weekly gaming duration of 7.9 hours on mobile devices, lightly edging out the 6.5 hours spent on both consoles and PCs. This demonstrates the substantial role mobile gaming plays in their entertainment routines. 

Additionally, young gamers seem to be more receptive to diverse gaming content compared to their adult counterparts. The report revealed that 46% of the surveyed teens expressed interest in foreign game titles, e-sports, live streaming games, and content creators, as opposed to only 12% of overall Japanese gamers. 

Lisa Hanson, CEO and founder of Niko Partners,emphasized the potential for non-Japanese gaming companies to expand their presence in Japan. With a sizable youth gamer demographic that exhibits openness to diverse gaming experiences, the country offers an appealing market opportunity for international gaming firms. 

“There is an opportunity for non-Japanese gaming companies to expand and increase their presence in Japan, as the country’s youth gamers is a potential market on its own,” as Lisa Hanson stated. 

The survey findings also highlighted the proactive role of Japanese parents in supervising their children’s gaming activities. A considerable 67% of parents believed that it’s their responsibility to oversee gaming time, rather than relying on governmental regulations. Almost half (45.8%) of the gamers agree with their parents. This perspective reflects a desire for self-regulation within the family unit.

In parallel, the report discovered that Japanese parents tend to hold a favorable view of gaming and are often gamers themselves. This alignment in views between parents and young gamers underscores the evolving dynamics of gaming in Japanese households.

In addition, a separate study conducted by Niko Partners last month yielded interesting findings. The report revealed that women comprise 37% of game players across the Asian region. According to another recent study, the worldwide games market is expected to produce $187.7 billion in revenue this year.