Japanese Games Market Grows for the First Time in 5 Years - News

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The Japanese video game market grew by 1.2 percent to $4.6 billion in the fiscal year 2012 which ended on March 31, 2013. This comes from a report on Tech in Asia using data released by Tokyo-based game magazine Enterbrain. While 1.2 percent in growth is small, it is a good sign for a market that has shrunk on a yearly basis for five straight years.

Hardware sales increased by five percent to $1.8 billion due to the release of the Wii U, the new 3DS model, and price cut for the PlayStation Vita. However software sales decreased by 1.2 percent to $2.8 billion.

The social game market has been estimated to have been worth $4.3 billion in 2012. This makes that market just $300 million behind the regular gaming market. The social game market grew faster than the regular game market in 2012.

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Otakumegane (on 10 April 2013)

So pretty much the 3DS. Huh. That's actually pretty worrying.

• 0

DietSoap Otakumegane (on 10 April 2013)

No, the past 5 years were what was worrying.

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menx64 (on 10 April 2013)

Praise to nintendo when they deserve it...

• 0

sniper989 (on 09 April 2013)

social market to soon overtake regual gaming market? oh no.. i hope ps4 can change this

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DarkFury (on 09 April 2013)

WiiU did not give a bigger bump than that? :(

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ktay95 DarkFury (on 09 April 2013)

you also have to factor in the dropping sales of DS,psp, Ps3 etc.

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