In the dynamic world of mobile gaming, the Japanese player base stands out for its enthusiastic support of new titles. According to a recent report by Diandian, Japanese mobile gamers have demonstrated an impressive willingness to open their wallets for the latest mobile gaming experiences. Let's dive into the details of this intriguing phenomenon.
Monster Hunter Now: A Roaring Success
One of the standout games of September was "Monster Hunter Now," a collaboration between the Japanese game giant Capcom and Niantic, the creators of Pokémon Go. This game seamlessly blended Capcom's iconic Monster Hunter franchise with Niantic's augmented reality (AR) and geolocation technology. The result was a resounding success, as it raked in a staggering $31.44 million in revenue in just one month.
What's even more remarkable is that "Monster Hunter Now" managed to become Niantic's second-highest-grossing game in such a short span. The game's tremendous success was largely attributed to its popularity in Japan, where it soared to the top of the charts. In fact, it temporarily claimed the first spot on Japan's Apple App Store downloads and was second only to "Royal Match" on the Play Store.
The anticipation for this game was palpable, with over three million pre-installs. Surprisingly, while only 14.32% of the downloads came from Japanese players, they accounted for a staggering 68.66% of the game's revenue. This indicates that Japanese players are not only enthusiastic downloaders but also generous spenders.
Ever Crisis: A Mixed Reception
Square Enix's "Final Fantasy VII" spinoff, "Ever Crisis," also entered the scene in September. While it reached the top of Japan's free games list, it only managed to secure ninth place on the bestseller list. Despite its mixed reception, the game generated an estimated $13.93 million in revenue.
Similar to "Monster Hunter Now," Japanese players were the primary contributors to "Ever Crisis," responsible for 61.7% of the game's revenue. A notable boost came from introducing a new story campaign featuring a young version of the beloved antagonist Sephiroth.
Mosaic Heroes: A Promising Debut
Mint Y Games' "Mosaic Heroes" made a notable entrance into the Japanese mobile gaming market in September. It quickly climbed to the second spot on the free games list for iOS and reached seventh place on the best-selling list, showcasing its potential to capture the Japanese audience's attention.
Seven Knights Idle Adventure in South Korea
Turning our attention to South Korea, the launch of "Seven Knights Idle Adventure" from Netmarble made waves. In just five days, the game generated nearly ¥50 million ($6.8 million) in revenue. Its appeal extended to low-spec devices, allowing it to access a broader audience. By the end of the month, it had garnered 560,000 downloads in South Korea, bringing in more than ¥115 million ($15.72 million) in revenue.
The Future of Gaming: Overdare Metaverse
Lastly, though not a new game, Krafton and Naver Z announced a groundbreaking project named "Overdare." This metaverse platform, developed on Unreal Engine 5, promises to revolutionize the gaming industry. It will use generative AI to enable game creation in various genres and is set to launch in December, with a global release planned for next year.
In summary, the data from Diandian's report sheds light on Japan's mobile gaming market's impressive willingness to spend on new mobile games. "Monster Hunter Now" and "Ever Crisis" demonstrated that, when engaging content is combined with Japanese players' enthusiasm, it can lead to substantial financial success. The mobile gaming industry in Japan and South Korea remains vibrant, with players readily embracing new gaming experiences and contributing to the industry's growth. It's a testament to the global impact of the mobile gaming industry and the importance of catering to the preferences of diverse player bases.
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