Yo-kai Watch is a phenomenon in Japan, with millions of games sold along with significant success for toys and the TV show. It's a franchise that has been a huge asset for Level-5, and there's naturally the expectation that it'll make a big impact in the West.
Level-5 has already confirmed that Yo-kai Watch will arrive outside of Japan, with statements suggesting a 2015 roll-out, yet details are scarce; it's a logistical challenge too, as there have been two main game releases and multiple iterations already in Japan. A press release today, however, suggests that we may be looking at 2016 before the full range arrives, or at least late in the year for the first game releases.
A partnership with Hasbro to bring a toy-range for the franchise to the West has been confirmed; below is a relevant excerpt.
In 2016, Hasbro will introduce an innovative toy line for the franchise. The YO-KAI WATCH cross-platform experience will also include additional broadcasting, video game and merchandising relationships to be announced later this year.
Level-5 President Ahihiro Hino is quoted as saying "we are ready to bring the brand to new markets across multiple platforms", with multiple platforms in this context seemingly meaning video games, toys, books and TV. There have been no suggestions to date that the franchise will stop being 3DS-exclusive on the gaming front, though we'll know this year whether that's set to change.
Considering its phenomenal success in Japan it's certainly taking quite a while to bring Yo-kai Watch to the West; hopefully it'll be worth the wait.
[source gonintendo.com]
Comments 16
i cant wait for this game. its going to be so awesome!!
excite-train is rollin in!
It's like Pokemon in the 90's all over again. The West gets to taste a Japanese sensation, years after the fact.
rolls eyes
1. About freaking time!
2. Hope it gets better treatment than other things like it. By that I mean a TV show that doesn't air in an early morning death slot!
I'd rather have Geistcrusher. The HYPER cutesy art style in Yokai watch would make even a hardcore pokemon fan nauseous.
Doesn't everybody OUT Nintendo before they do??? Seriously what does Nintendo wait for to make some of these announcements?? Other companies would like to capitalize on hype yet Nintendo waits till the very last minute on almost everything!!
@Spoony_Tech
I would not blame Nintendo on this one as Level 5 are the ones in charge of this. My bet is that it is taking a long time since they have to take care of the game(s), TV show and other tie ins like these toys.
But it sure has taken forever.
@sinalefa Yeah but will Nintendo localize them? They often step in and do this.
@Spoony_Tech
They should, so they have both this and Pokémon, instead of having competition. They did publish the Layton games after all.
I hope they''ll speed up in getting the games in the west or at least not fail the 2015 window, they already demolished the inazuma eleven potential with the ultra late europe releases and a single even later american one, Yokai watch seems to clearly have much more selling potential, ruining it by repeating the same mistake would be crazy DX
Dang, let the wait begin...
If they bring the toys then they have to bring the game. Merchandizing is all about the tie-ins.
I like that orange cat, and the ghost. It'd be cool to see them fight that old lady character.
Sure would like to play the game that I've been interested in since... 2012, I think?
that years long gap is probably going to look startling, unless the games were remade/improved for the export. otherwise you're seeing something like a Pre-Nintendo Network-era game in the west when it already has 2 Games and the first one is almost 2 years old in July.
always need a new franchise, being made by level-5 will probably be pretty good. lets just hope they don't attempt to heavily bowdlerize the core material, or shunt the TV stuff onto Disney XD just to hastily pump only 20 episodes in 2 weeks in august, only to be forgotten about until it appears on EU Nintendo's anime channel app, or CITV.
All I want is for Yo-Kai Watch to be released in the west. I don't have a whole lot of interest in buying some toys. though I would consider the tv show.
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