Today's news that Japanese video game rating organisation CERO--that's the 'Computer Entertainment Rating Organization'--is closing temporarily in response the COVID-19 pandemic will likely have far longer lasting repercussions on the video games industry than recent cancellation of annual events such as E3 and GDC.
Japan's response to the coronavirus outbreak has been curiously low-key in comparison to other countries (retail stores have been open and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were still going ahead as planned until their postponement towards the end of March), but the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo and other regions means businesses are to close for a month, starting Wednesday 8th April.
if you're not Nintendo or Sony or Bethesda, a month's delay could be the difference between survival or going under
While the closure likely won't affect video games releasing in the immediate weeks (those titles will have already been reviewed and rated by CERO), the closure, which is currently set to last until the 6th May, will certainly change the shape of the summer release schedule in potentially significant ways.
At the very least, gamers should expect delays across the board for anything targeting a June or July launch. Any submission not already rated by CERO will be suspended and effectively held in limbo for a month; games that companies were preparing to submit and planning to release over the summer months will consequently get pushed back, too. And while the shutdown is scheduled for one month, there's no guarantee it won't be extended. For gamers that means the summer may well be a lot quieter than usual, as publishers both large and small join the queue to get their game rated and released in Japan.
Of course, the big games companies will be able to ride this closure out without too much bother. Inconvenient as it is, Sony probably isn't too worried about having to delay the release of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us: Part II, for example - it's a big game with an audience that will wait (heck, already have waited) a long time for.
You've got to feel for the smaller outfits and individuals, though: firms with slim margins surviving on a per-release basis; developers who have sunk everything into making a game set to release Summer 2020; publishers relying on a cash injection in order to fund the next project. There's money invested in so many places and if you're not Nintendo or Sony or Bethesda, a month's delay could be the difference between survival or going under.
[working from home] is often not simply a case of grabbing an office laptop, making sure the Wi-Fi's working and jumping on Slack
Developers around the world are doing their best to work from home, but many companies (Japanese ones especially) aren't prepared and don't have an infrastructure set up for remote working. It's often not simply a case of grabbing an office laptop, making sure the Wi-Fi's working and jumping on Slack. Games development on a large scale requires specialised hardware and equipment, secure data storage and much more besides. Best case scenario, development work will be completed more slowly as unusual obstacles not present in an office environment limit output. It's a tough situation for everyone, and we haven't even started on the psychological and physiological effects of not being able to leave the house for weeks on end. Delays, then, are inevitable, but the closure of CERO is yet another reminder to every gamer to be prepared for several lean months.
So what does this mean specifically for Nintendo? Well, the company has few announced titles on the slate for 2020, meaning the general public can't be too disappointed for unknown projects missing their dates (one of the pluses, from a PR perspective, of Nintendo playing its cards close to its chest).
Conversely, it means planned announcements will be delayed, too. Following the ‘Direct drought’ at the start of the year, Nintendo fans are hungry for new game news--as we've seen from the rumoured 3D Mario 'All-Stars 2' package--and right now the Nintendo-published Switch roapmap for 2020 is populated by Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and a whole lot of tumbleweed. We expected this to change with a flurry of megaton announcements, but that seems unlikely given the current situation.
Nintendo also had the opening of the Super Nintendo World theme park planned to coincide with the tourism influx brought by the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It seems increasingly unlikely that the latter won't be postponed and, given the restrictions in place and the precarious economic situation of potential visitors to the new park, a delay to the park's opening feels inevitable even if its doors are technically ready to open on schedule.
Nintendo is arguably more insulated than most firms from these effects
With little news regarding the company's upcoming output, some gamers may have been pinning their hopes on a Holiday 2020 announcement for Breath of the Wild 2, although the chances of that were slim to begin with; they are now presumably non-existent. By all accounts we'll be lucky if we see Metroid Prime 4 by Holiday 2021, and any unannounced titles will now be subject to delay. Throw in production issues and console shortages and things could certainly be rosier in Kyoto.
However, Nintendo has an ace up its sleeve right now in the form of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the game which keeps on giving. The company fortuitously cast this lifeline at just the right time and its popularity has ballooned to incredible proportions, breaking beyond the confines of the gaming community into the mainstream. In the three weeks since launch Nintendo's most evergreen of titles has spread contagiously across social media rampantly - our feeds are filled with little other than COVID-19, custom designs and critters caught.
Where other games have an end point or a campaign that concludes, Animal Crossing changes over the course of a year, with new events, new creatures to catch, new features to unlock, new things to discover. Nintendo lucked out with this game's launch timing, and assuming the emergency situation doesn't prevent the company putting out event updates over the coming months, New Horizons is the best possible game to take both Nintendo and its fans through these trying times. Kinda tough luck if you don't like Animal Crossing, though.
For anybody with a huge backlog of unplayed games, there is a silver lining to this lockdown, but the economic realities are sobering and we're not through the worst of it yet. Nintendo is arguably more insulated than most firms from these effects (Microsoft and Sony are committed to new console launches that look increasingly unlikely to hit their 2020 date), but the continued effects of COVID-19 will be felt across the industry for months, possibly years to come.
We hope you're all keeping safe and making the best of the situation with the finest video games available to humanity. Let us know below your thoughts on how the games industry will be affected in the coming months and beyond.
Comments (83)
Um, the summer Olympics aren't going ahead this summer, they've been postponed to next year.
Metroid Prime 4 in 2022 is fine if they release the Metroid Prime Trilogy to keep us busy till then. I mean come on Nintendo we know you have it locked and loaded.
anyone expecting business as usual game development isn’t really grasping the situation. Even with home workstations, there is obv a massive delay on everything that isn’t Already locked and loaded. Would be a major shocker if something like botw2 came this year. I would believe the Mario remasters tho
I spent years building my backlog for just this eventuality. I've got enough unplayed games to last about 37 years.
@PanurgeJr Humble bundle has made sure my backlog was ready for this.
@PanurgeJr
Don't we all by now ?
I played and replayed Remake 3, 7 times now.
There is plenty to play. If you seriously think there is a drought, then I don't know what to tell you. Closing up shop is best for everyone. Don't brace yourselves for a lack of releases, brace for a hopefully low case count. Now is seriously not the time to cry over video games. Hope everyone is well and safe and the little guys can get through this, hopefully short, disruption.
@TheLightSpirit that one seems very far along, if not pretty much done. Would expect massive delays on physical tho
@TheLightSpirit
I don't think so. That game is finished and has been available to pre-load on the eShop. Physical copies may take a bit longer to arrive, but the game is done and coming out on its planned date.
I'd guess the shutdown and the confirmation there's no digital E3 will mean instead of a normal Direct in June we'll get a Smash presentation and a Pokemon Direct.
Nintendo's been pretty much relying on Animal Crossing, Smash and Pokemon for 2020 so far anyway.
@Mii_duck You're right! Apologies - I've edited that line
Man, do we really need to gather up and discuss this like a big crisis? Sure, it's gonna be taxing on many affected industry folks, but likely not much more than the whole pandemic has already been anyway. As for us customers... I just commented on the FWP nature of lamenting a sparse release calendar in quarantine today, but on the other hand, we don't even know how many games (particularly their Japanese releases, mind you) were certified before CERO's timeout - from the aforementioned spring releases to the stuff that hasn't even been announced yet or retains a general "2020" stamp in the public eye. What's the [talking] point in buzzing over the delays of something we may not even know about?
On a side note, the Olympics have long been rescheduled to next summer. And if Japan's pandemic measures are "low-key", what would be the word for Belarus, then?😅
I believe the Olympics were postponed until 2021.
Considering how folks run through games, a little time to digest a large backlog will actually be best. I expect Nintendo to hold off on any Directs until mid to late summer. I wonder what Microsoft and Sony are going to do. If they release these likely expensive consoles this year or next year, I don't expect monumental sales. The global economy may not recover the way anyone expects, and money, especially for secondary things like movies, videogames and sporting events will plunge. Hopefully that means a return to quality when things resume. I still think Nintendo is going to own the year, with a likely price drop, and multiple ports. Save the big stuff for holiday 2021, I say.
To second Mii_Duck, the Olympics already got postponed two weeks ago.
Also arguably Metroid Prime 4 development is more greatly impacted by restrictions in the US since it is being developed by Retro Studios who are based in Austin, Texas unlike most of the main Nintendo studios based in Japan.
@PanurgeJr I am in the same boat. I could go many years and not purchase a game and be fine. I think the act of buying games has become a problem...
@dartmonkey - no worries, I enjoyed the article.
I've been basically hoarding Switch games over the last three years. Well over 400 games now, at least half of which I haven't had the time to play yet. A bit of time to work through some of those and save some money in the process is fine by me.
I’ll be fine waiting for new games as I have still not started fire emblem or links awakening yet so I should manage to last till later in the year with Xenoblade Chronicles and trials of mana as well
Does CERO work the same way as the ESRB, where the publishers show a trailer of the game that includes the most objectionable content contained within and then a committee rates the game?
I'm wondering why they can't employ people from the home, if that's the case? Leaks?
@Grumblevolcano
Why would no digital E3 be confirmation of no Nintendo Direct? Couldn't Nintendo just do what LRG (or what Nintendo normally does for most directs) and post the direct on their YouTube channel or just partner up with IGN if they think it'll get lost with the rest of the gaming news?
Hopefully ecchi games just ends up delayed and not printed in just very limited printruns.
In my country animal crossing has just doubled the price lol
@TheLightSpirit I think anything covered in that last direct is a safe bet
On a personal level, this doesn't really affect me much. I have plenty of games to play and honestly don't mind a bit of a "drought" (which is exaggerated). I have enough titles on multiple platforms to keep me busy for over a year.
On a social level, this is a smart move and was inevitable given the current global situation. Game development will slow if not stop completely for awhile, but that's a small price to pay when lives hang in the balance. I do feel for the smaller shops and individuals that don't have much of a financial cushion right now. It's an issue affecting many, MANY industries right now.
Now is the time to clear your backlog folks. However I see some potential good with this as some teams may cook games a little more.
I honestly don't see what anything that happens to CERO has to do with gamers in the Western regions, seeing as their games aren't rated by CERO but by other instances, who don't depend on CERO or their actions at all.
Do not understand how this ratings board cannot remotely do this. Not being spoiled either, as if it was a "shipping isn't feasible", I wouldn't make a peep. What am I missing here? They don't even review physical copies anymore. Is it that publishers are worried about game leaks, if people are reviewing from home?
I am braced and I have a ridiculous amount of games to play, having said that wouldn't this be a good time to really bolster its Nintendo Switch Online service with more SNES games?
This has actually given me a good opportunity to increase my retro collection and play some of them too
Guys, this is only the JAPANESE ratings board. For all we know, America and Europe could get Japanese developed games before Japan does because the American and European ratings boards aren't closed yet. Why does no one seem to understand this?
I feel like should be good in America and Europe since the ESRB and PEGI haven't shut done yet, but there is still the possibility
@alexybubble @ThanosReXXX Some of us import from Japan and it affects games not release in Europe and America.
@KitsuneNight : I was thinking of purchasing RE3. But the reviews have been mixed. The only RE I've skipped is 7, because I'm assuming the main characters aren't there. The reviews I read keep saying the game is short. What do you think of RE 3?
@tobibra That's pretty much an open door, so that's no news to me, but the article made it sound like the entire industry might be affected by it, which is definitely not the case.
@Cyberbotv2
It should be obvious that I like it ^.~
The game is short ( my shortest run time is about 86 minutes )
But that's also kind of its biggest strength.
Because its short you can replay it again and again and again and try different strategies.
Or a "clean run" ( no deaths no saves)
Or a "rambo" run ( the game lets you purchase infinite weapons and augmentation coins, that increase you defense, damage out put and regenerate your health.)
There are no puzzles as such. It's more streamlined and action orientated.
But there are quite a lot of unloackables, including 2 extra difficulty modes ( nightmare and inferno )
You also get an entire separate online game .
If you are still hesitating and are a PC gamer, Fanatical.com has it on 22% discount right now for their Easter sale.
Too many games to play as is so this is fine.
Publishers could be hesitant to release big-name titles if they can't do so globally. If Nintendo couldn't release, say, Mario All-Stars 2 in Japan, but released it everywhere else, it would impact those release numbers and initial sales in a big way.
Um, why can't CERO employees work from home?
@Toy_Link The combination of the 2 things was my point. CERO shutdown delays games and not having the E3 pressure means Nintendo can announce games when release dates are more likely to be maintained.
@ThanosReXXX Japan release gets delayed due to CERO shutdown so it gets delayed worldwide because developer wants worldwide release on the same day. Xbox would be affected the least as their presence in Japan is pretty much nonexistent.
Just release it with an RP rating. Works everytime, mauahahaha.
@KitsuneNight : You sold me my friend. And thanks for the PC tip. Its between that and the xbox version. I just love RE. I'm actually playing Zero on Switch now. Again, thank you!
Peoples' safety comes first, but I do really hope Xenoblade doesn't get impacted by this.
Oh well, I just say this whole mess is a great time to work on thinning that backlog...
I'm way too efficient at playing all my games. I have zero backlog at all.
Time to replay EVERYTHING.
@sketchturner I wish I were that efficient.
@PanurgeJr you crack me up man😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
@Grumblevolcano Brain Age switch, which still hasn't been brought over to America? Keep telling yourself that companies won't have delayed releases in other countries.
@alexybubble that's basically how I can't help but feel about this? Also I could be wrong but I feel like I recall hearing that Japan had been exceptionally careless about COVID compared to other Asian countries like South Korea because of Japan's insistence on hosting the Olympics this year no matter what.
Which is not say that other countries might not be affected but plenty of others had been more careful either through local measure when national leadership lacked or by more preemptive national leadership in the first place.
Which is to say that some/many worldwide releases might be unaffected due to their rating boards not facing the same levels of issues.
@Ludovsky Japan only has 80 deaths so far. Everyone else has double or more. Phillipines has about 200, South Korea has bout 200. Which is crazy considering how compact Japan is.
@Grumblevolcano
Nintendo is stil going to have the "pressure" of other publishers announcements during IGN's event and the arrival of XBSX and PS5 (assuming they're not delayed) in the fall.
And unless if you think CERO's closure is going to be extended into summer or even fall(which I find ridiculous), the games that are affected will be the summer titles, not the fall titles that are the main focus of E3 Directs.
And I don't think in times such as this, it's out of the question to delay the Japanese release. Especially if its a big blockbuster title like Mario that will drive Switch sales. If they're worried about losing Japanese sales with imports, they can always slap a rough release date on it, like half of the games in the mini direct.
And E3 Directs are targeted towards the Western market anyway (Unlike most Directs, Japan does not get unique versions of E3 Directs, only subbed version). While of course there are still plenty of Japanese developers and publishers in E3 Directs, there'll be western publishers like 2K, Activision, EA, etc. (who are usually ignored in the JPN version of directs) that usually release their games later in Japan anyway, so it won't effect them anyway.
@Toy_Link There is no guarantee that this massive hit in the first half of the year due to the crisis will not impact the fall. Don't forget Sony just delayed a major PS4 release in the Last of Us Part 2 with no clear release date. I think right now because of all the unknowns the PS5 and XBSX may be delayed (they probably have not yet in hopes things settle in late-May/Early-June so they can get back on target for fall/winter launch). So, right now I think Nintendo may be preparing for an E3-styled digital event, but is also paying attention to what Sony and Microsoft do.
Let's not forget we should hope for the long-term safety of the developers over Nintendo's fall line-up hitting deadlines.
@KitsuneNight Glad you were able too enjoy it. For me I was disappointed in the game on how much was cut compared as RE3 was my favorite in the series. I know it is a remake and things are expected too change but wasn't excepting that much too change.
I know RE2 remake had things changed and cut but it wasn't as bad for me for that game and made it too my #2 game last year.
I would have thought this is a job that could be done from home.
Rating Organization, I assume the game could be downloaded to the Organization who, I again assume, can play, view and rate it.
Well this does not affect me at all. I do not play Japanese imports
My backlog will last me for quite a while anyways so I'm okay with this. Animal Crossing is getting most of my attention though haha.
@CurryPowderKeg79 I'm not sure how it would work without a sensor bar. The gyro aiming would be a poor solution and I don't see them going back to traditional controls (Prime 3 especially)
It's not often I buy games when they're released anyway because of the old backlog. Xenoblade Chronicles X could keep me busy for a long time (even after 60 hours I've already put into it). There's also loads of other Wii, Wii U and Gamecube games for me to go back to.
@JMR_Alden It's a long shot but if they REALLY wanted to release Metroid Prime Trilogy on Switch then they could make a USB sensor bar. Guess you'd still need the Wii remotes but Nintendo could do a special edition with everything in the box which would be quite expensive. While I'm dreaming the sensor could also be used for Skyward Sword HD
I kind of see this year as being over for gaming. That's weird to say in April. But I don't see any big games being released in times like this. I also don't think the PS5 or XBOX Series X will be released this year or early next year.
Even though, I will still follow game news, and play the games that are coming (Xenoblade Chronicles, Clubhouse games) and the games that I have at home, including Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy VII remake.
I think those currently certified in CERO are probably ready to release it's upcoming still in development and testing with CERO that is affected. I think alot of people are reading too much tea leaves here.
@Grumblevolcano Depends on the game, I suppose. If it's a game that has to be rated by Western rating boards, then it wouldn't matter much, so that would only count for what's probably a handful of Western titles, and perhaps even these will adapt to the current situation by not sticking to the simultaneous release in all regions, who knows?
Game development I can see being a problem from home, but rating seems like one that could easily be done at home provided you have internet.
Whatever needs to be done, though. I have such a backlog I could go without releases for years and still be playing new-to-me games.
One thing this made me think to do is I think I will go through my wishlist and over the coming weeks/months buy up the games from smaller developers to at least support them in a minor way during this time when they perhaps can't release anything new.
This is the best time for indie developers, happily making games at home like they always did but now has reason to do that because of lockdown.
A little sad to not get any (many?) exciting Nintendo announcements this year, but like others have indicated, this is good news for those of us who just want to hole up and enjoy our backlog without shiny new distractions.
Knock-on? Never heard that
Can't they just declare the rest of the year a free-for-all with no ratings? Sonic's new spinning chainsaw move, Atlus anime girls gone wild, Animal Crossing the Rob Zombie edition... Think of the possibilities! What CERO doesn't know won't hurt them.
A huge backlog of unplayed games is an absolute understatement. I’ve got at least 10 to get through, including Fire Emblem which I’ve only put 5 hours into. Just couldn’t get into the game but when this animal crossing addiction dies off again I’ll be diving head first back into three houses
I can handle delays just fine. But I fear for talented developers and project cancellations. But Japan is making the right choice acting now, while the numbers are still fairly low. They are surely looking at what happened/is happening in American and Europe and realizing that such a thing could well happen in Japan too. It might already be too late...
It might be time for Nintendo to introduce a Nintendo Selects budget range for Switch. Its something they can do to fill the schedules a little bit (£20 for the likes of BOTW, Mario Kart 8 DX, Xenoblade 2? That would tempt those waiting on a price cut) that don't need to be re-rated, and they could even help out a few struggling smaller 3rd parties/indie developers by including their games in the range (Remember the physical Steamworld Collection and that racing game on Wii U that got the Nintendo Selects treatment and physical discs? Something like that could help bring an extra boost in income for smaller companies in this time.)
It's time to DO AWAY WITH RATINGS !!! Its as completely unnecessary and draconian now as it was when Tipper Gore decided you needed it in the 90's. Just bad bureaucracy. And bad for artistic expression.
I'm really looking forward to the Samurai Jack game this summer. I really hope it won't be delayed like everything else I'm looking forward to. I doubt CERO will affect it, but if the ESRB shuts down as well, or just the developer wants to delay because they can't work on it right now, that sucks,
I have so many games I could go back and play and plenty of retro, indie, or missed stuff I could check out. If gaming stopped in it's entirety for the foreseeable future, I would not starve. Better everyone stay safe.
Also I have not been able to stop playing Animal Crossing since launch. I feel I will eventually reach a point where my island is as perfect as I can want it and will move on but in the meantime there is still enough to collect or work up to.
I've been wanting to check out that Good Job game too. Looks fun.
Financially I will be strapped now as I'm currently on stand by. So I'm good with my stash.
@Cyberbotv2
I hope you enjoy REmake 3 and that I didn't led you to waste your money.
@SilentHunter382
For me it was the other way around of the ps1 trilogy, I always liked Nemesis the least.
So I was surprised that i like REmake 3 as much as I do.
PS1 Resident Evil 2 was always my favorite. ( To the point that I had it on 3 different platforms and played it back, to back to back, to back to back, several times to unlock everything. )
Remake 2 is a great game, but for me it has a huge dead space in the form of the sewer and the scavenger hunt.
For me that's such a tedious boring, over long section of the game.
It just stops the game cold for me.
To the point I have to force myself to slog through it.
As a result I played REmake 2 a lot less then 3.
Can't they just released their games in other regions first instead of Japan? I mean CERO is shutting down but we still had the ESRB doing okay over here.
@PanurgeJr brilliant. Same xD
I think some Japanese Developers if still operational during this time might take advantage like Monolith Soft for example would do some finishing touches to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition before release.
@Priceless_Spork I humbly disagree. Some things just aren't suitable for certain age groups.
Good, this is fantastic news! Now maybe i can start to cath-up on my ridiculous backlog of games.
This is for the best, Japan should have been in a SoE sooner. Hopefully they can start testing people that need testing and not turn so many people away (due to them not being “sick” enough) so they have a better idea of where to fight the virus at.
Tough luck for me as I don’t like Animal Crossing or Pokémon, last two big games for Nintendo. I would settle for ports or remasters of games like Mario or Zelda to keep me tied over for the next big new release from Nintendo.
@GrailUK
I understand but the state shouldnt do the parenting.
@Priceless_Spork No they shouldn't, shame they have to.
@GrailUK
Eveytime you say they have to, is you losing freedom. Give yourself the power Grail. And let others have it too. Some screw up, but most won't.
@Priceless_Spork Some screw up their kids. Children. Vulnerable. I find it wholly irresponsible for a society to think 'f- it.'
@GrailUK
Of course I agree, so it's important to keep reinforcing your own values. That's your power. it's preferable to capitulation to the government. You might have an impact. Cant give up freedoms just cause some people suck. Who will you follow if it turns out the government doesn't value the same things you do? It won't matter it will be too late.
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