In a recent free online seminar, Japanese game company HIKE unveiled the findings of an independent survey that delves into the evolving landscape of Japan’s gaming market. Conducted in 2024, the survey focused on the spending habits and preferences of Japanese gamers, specifically examining their preferred gaming hardware while excluding mobile gaming data, which was addressed in a separate study.
Survey Insights on Gaming Preferences
The survey gathered insights from a diverse group of 1,000 gamers, ranging from their teens to their 60s. Participants were categorized based on their annual spending habits into three distinct groups:
- Light users (54%): Spending or less on games per year
- Medium users (36%): Spending between and 0
- Core users (10%): Spending over 0
The preferences for gaming hardware revealed intriguing trends. The Nintendo Switch continued to reign supreme as the most favored gaming device across all demographics in 2024, chosen by 41.2% of light users and 23.6% of core users. While these figures mirror the previous year’s results closely, they indicate a slight decline compared to 2022.
In contrast, the survey highlighted a notable rise in the popularity of PC gaming, which has historically been slower to gain traction in Japan compared to other regions. In 2024, PCs emerged as the first choice for 19.6% of light users, 16.4% of medium users, and 19.0% of core gamers, showcasing an upward trend from 2023, where the respective figures were 17.6%, 16.0%, and 16.9%.
Meanwhile, the PlayStation 4 maintained its status as a popular choice, selected by 19.8% of light users and 19.6% of medium users. However, among the core users, the PS5 garnered more attention, being the preferred console for 20.1% of this group. Despite its appeal among higher-spending gamers, the PS5 was chosen by only 13.0% of light users, indicating a significant gap when compared to the more established preferences for the PC and PS4 within this largest demographic.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, these insights provide a glimpse into the shifting preferences of Japanese gamers, highlighting both the enduring popularity of established consoles and the growing acceptance of PC gaming in a market traditionally dominated by handheld devices.
