The online independent retailer Playasia turns 20 years old this year, and to celebrate this special occasion - it's launching its own publishing label.
Playasia Publishing is officially described as a "new video game software branch" that aims to "further the goal" of providing games for video game fans around the world.
It will also provide "direct assistance" to developers (throughout the development and publishing process) - by helping bring games to new platforms and providing additional language support.
The move into publishing has been made easy with an established customer base and existing connections with partners across Asia, having already been an "exclusive partner for hundreds of unique physical titles".
Playasia called on VTubers @obakepam and @theakamana to share the news. Check out the full press announcement in the video below:
You can learn more over on the official Playasia website. In related news this week, Cadence of Hyrule and Crypt of the NecroDancer developer Brace Yourself Games also announced its own publishing label:
Comments 34
This could be a real boon for localization. Even to this day, there are games that don't make it out west. Here's to hoping PlayAsia can help bridge the gap?
That's great news! More games means more fun for everyone!
I'm not to bothered about getting an official European release of stuff. Just as long as they get English on those Asian releases!
Oh no, even more pervy shovelware
Play-asia was my first online shopping website for purchasing original games in year 2014.
I got Final Fantasy III NDS from play-asia for the first time.
It was about 20 years ago I ordered from this website when they were pretty new. I ordered a PS2/GC/DC to USB adapter. Still have it.
More Japanese games for the west is never a bad thing, and if you don't like Japanese game then move on, no need to spread your negativity on here.
PlayAsia is one of the few sites that got the privilege of being jotted down in my handwritten bookmark list, back in the day!
For a lot of games, they are the only way to get a physical port. But they are so darn expensive.
@dr-gorgo 😂 Playasaia is more than that...I've shopped from them a couple of times when they were the only source for a physical copy. They have a much better system than LRG
Good for them, play-asia has been a constant for all manner of imports for both us and japanese games for me. The prices are expensive these days but they're a solid and trustworthy retailer, or at least they've never failed me, having started importing from them in the DS days.
This is amazing news! The best stuff comes from PlayAsia so I can't wait to see what they bring next!
@dr-gorgo Nah, if you want the real 18+ stuff then you need a laptop / PC. That's the entire reason I bought a laptop back in June. All the spicy stuff is removed from the Switch versions of eroge. I mean "all ages" eroge is an oxymoron to begin with, lol
Love PlayAsia. I get some great stuff from them. I'm just glad to hear they seem to be growing!
Awesome. That potentially means more Japanese shmups translated into English. Not that there needs to be much to read, so online translations can be easy, but would be nice and convenient not having to check my phone.
Neat. I bought the Japanese release of Pokémon White from them back in 2010 because I couldn't wait for the English version. My only experience with Play Asia but I'm still happy about this news!
I hope this will be no limited releases/only digital but proper physical games as far as possible.
@JustMonika but for a lot of people “pervy” means japan.
I remember few people in the past that concluded everything japan is for perverts, then I proved them where Nintendo and Sony come from…
I'll be impressed if they produce physical copies of Famicom Detective Club. I doubt we're going to see games that are owned by a major game company published by PlayAsia, with an ESRB/Pegi rating on the box, but at least most of them play in English if you import them.
I remember when I was able to order Naruto GNT3+4 because I couldn't find it anywhere else with a normal price. I was playing it with Freeloader disc and so, I could play JPN NTSC in a PAL GameCube. I was so happy
More English translations and digital downloads would be perfect.
Please publish "Massage Freaks" for Nintendo Switch.
**** Playasia. They are nothing but scam artists and crooks. I am still waiting for a controller or a refund from them for an ordered I placed 9 years ago.
Why don't you do an article about how they scam people NL instead of acting like they dont.
Always hated these guys. Used to get a lot of games from them during the ds era. Had problems with returns and pre-order cancelations never ordered from them again after.
If this means I can get physical copies of games cheaper then they currently would be ordering from Play-Asia then great.
@Zorox88 It's because they are nothing but scam artists.
Bring on the the "JapIndies"! I love when longshot, quirky, sometimes odd, unabashedly, unapologetically Japanese games finally get a shot and localized out west!
Hopefully this inspires more fun localizations to come, even if it's just digitally.
... Wun can only hope.
love play asia for physical games that dont make it to europe
This is great news, especially if you like more physical games.
This could be really great! With Sony closing their Japan studio I feel like we have seen a little bit of a shortage of Japanese games, I hope this helps.
I want to see the cool ideas of more obscure Asian independent developers.
@Rayquaza2510 Well since I'm into anime, hentai and eroge then it's obvious that I'm bias and actually enjoy the pervy Japanese stuff, lol
This is great news!
@Tasuki Nah, they're hands down the best place to buy games. No reason to spread propaganda.
@JustMonika Best place to buy games?? More like best place to get ripped off.
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