Japanese Game Market Shrinks 15 Percent As UK Industry Records Huge Growth

January 7, 2009 2:30 PM

The Japanese videogame market shrank for the first time in four years over 2008, dropping 15% on total sales of $6.2 billion, according to sales tracker Enterbrain.

Meanwhile, Gamasutra has word that the UK game market nearly matched Japan's size with a record $6 billion in 2008 gaming-related sales, representing year-over-year growth of 23%. The UK market has now doubled in size over the past five years.

The UK industry's strong growth was largely fueled by enormous sales of Nintendo's consoles and software. The company sold just under 40 million pieces of software in the territory.

The rapid decrease of the Japanese market was attributed to the lack of new console launches.

Nick Breckon

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ryuuseki

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January 7, 2009 2:46 PM

Take a look at the top 20 sales charts for Japan. There's not a single 360 title on them. The system has been my favourite out of all consoles to own (next to my dreamcast) and there is seemingly no market for it in Japan. It makes me wonder how you can play the same tired rpg format for so long and never think about what else there is.

Then again, this is the country that brings us octopus and vomit porn so maybe I should expect this.
- silverback1138
  
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  January 7, 2009 8:24 PM
  
  I dunno man, Tales of Vesperia,Tales of Symphonia 2, Valkaria Chronicles and Persona 4 were all very awesome games. I wouldn't call the RPG format tired. With all the generic shooters that I've seen this past 14 months, I'd be more apt to questions those.