September in the Games Industry: From Controversies to Smash-Hit Games

Japan’s Gaming Scene: Monster Hunter Now Takes the Lead

In September, the games industry witnessed a series of exciting events. From Unity’s controversy to Epic Games’ major layoffs in the West, the month was marked by legal updates and the release of a smash-hit game in the East. Diandian’s latest report focuses on the gaming landscape in Japan and South Korea, highlighting the big game launches in both countries.

Monster Hunter Now, the new mobile game developed by Diandian, made a significant impact in Japan. Combining local company Capcom’s IP with Niantic’s innovative augmented reality (AR) and geolocation technology, the game quickly gained popularity. In just one month, it generated a staggering $31.44 million in revenue, making it Niantic’s second-biggest game.

The success of Monster Hunter Now can be attributed to its incorporation of Japanese monsters, resonating with players in the region. In fact, Japan served as the game’s largest market. Niantic strategically targeted the Japanese demographic through a robust marketing campaign, including prominent billboards across the country. This effort paid off, as the game topped Japan’s Apple App Store downloads and ranked second, only behind Royal Match, on the Play Store. Monster Hunter Now secured the top spots on both the free games list and the bestseller list in Japan for a considerable period.

Earlier, the game had garnered over three million pre-installs, indicating high anticipation, and it has since doubled its playerbase to six million. Surprisingly, only 14.32% of the downloads originated from Japanese players. However, this seemingly modest percentage contributed an impressive 68.66% of the game’s total revenue thus far. In contrast, players from the United States constituted 19.71% of the current downloads market, but their contribution to revenue stood at just 8.28%.

Square Enix’s spinoff of the critically acclaimed game, Final Fantasy VII, titled Ever Crisis, was also launched in September. However, the game received a mixed reception. While it did peak at the top of Japan’s free games listing, it only reached ninth on the bestseller list. Ever Crisis has generated approximately $13.93 million in revenue so far, with the United States, Japan, and Brazil representing the leading markets, accounting for 30.82%, 25.93%, and 5.31% of the downloads respectively. Similar to Monster Hunter Now, Ever Crisis relies heavily on its Japanese audience, which contributed 61.7% of its revenue. The game recently introduced a young version of the popular villain Sephiroth, accompanied by a new story campaign, creating additional excitement among fans.

Mosaic Heroes, a game developed by Mint Y Games, also made its debut in the Japanese market in September. It immediately ranked second on the free games list for iOS and peaked at seventh on the best-selling list.

South Korea’s Gaming Landscape: Seven Knights Idle Adventure Dominates

In South Korea, September witnessed the release of Seven Knights Idle Adventure, the latest game from Netmarble and a sequel to Seven Knights. This new title achieved tremendous success, generating nearly ¥50 million ($6.8 million) within its first five days. One of the key factors contributing to Idle Adventure’s popularity is its compatibility with low-spec devices, allowing it to target a wider market and attract a larger playerbase. By the end of September, the game had been downloaded 560,000 times in South Korea alone, resulting in total revenue of over ¥115 million ($15.72 million).

Krafton’s Ambitious Project: Overdare

While not a new game, Krafton, in collaboration with Naver Z, announced an ambitious endeavor named Overdare in September. This upcoming metaverse platform, built on Unreal Engine 5, aims to revolutionize game creation across various genres using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Overdare is expected to release in December, with a global launch scheduled for next year.

Overall, September was a month full of game launches and industry developments in both Japan and South Korea. Monster Hunter Now and Seven Knights Idle Adventure stood out as major successes in their respective markets, while Ever Crisis and Mosaic Heroes received mixed responses. With Overdare on the horizon, the gaming industry can look forward to exciting advancements in game creation and immersive experiences.

For more insights into the games industry, check out our Top 50 Game Makers list.