Tag: Japan - Page 26
News Bandai Namco Apologises For Shortages Of Fishing Spirits In Japan
Catch it if you can
Since launching in Japan last month, Bandai Namco's Fishing Spirits game (Tsuri Spirits Nintendo Switch Version) has featured in the local video game charts on a regular basis. Its success has now reportedly resulted in shortages of the title across the country. As a result, Bandai Namco has issued an apology – explaining the...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Extends Its Stay In The Top Spot
Building up
The Famitsu Japanese chart figures are now in for 12th August - 18th August. Nintendo's Super Mario Maker 2 has experienced yet another week in the top spot. Fire Emblem: Three Houses has dropped to fourth place while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has climbed up a spot. Bandai Namco's arcade fishing game is in second an
News Sega Ages Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R Coming Soon To Japanese Switch eShop
Includes Mega Drive mode
Sega has revealed Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R is "coming soon" to the Japanese Switch eShop. This upcoming Sega Ages release started out life in the arcades in 1994 and was eventually made available on the Game Gear and Mega Drive (Genesis). The Switch eShop version will feature an arcade mode, Mega Drive mode...
News Tutor Your 2.5D Girlfriend In Please Teach Me Onedari Shogi, Coming To Nintendo Switch
"I would be happy if you played with me!"
Puzzle games and slightly risqué images of female models go together like strawberries and cream, or minced beef and custard, depending on who you ask. Assuming the latter is a peach worth plucking, SilverStarJapan have decided to bring Please Teach Me Onedari Shogi to the Nintendo Switch on the North...
News Darius Cozmic Collection Is Finally Getting An eShop Release On Switch
Only in Japan, though
Darius Cozmic Collection was an odd release in that it was limited to Japan and didn't get an eShop version. Thankfully, that situation is about to change as it has been revealed that the collection is getting a digital version next month. As was the case with the physical version of the collection, there will be two editions...
Feature Inti Creates On Mega Man, Working With Nintendo And Staying True To Its Japanese Roots
"We don’t really know what really appeals to people outside the Japanese market"
Inti Creates is arguably one of the most talented game developers working in Japan today. The company – formed by ex-Capcom staff – has produced self-made hits like Azure Striker Gunvolt and Gal*Gun, but has also worked extensively with other firms to produce...
Random Japanese Fans Decide Isabelle Would Be The Best Nintendo Sightseeing Guide
Who would you pick?
Nintendo characters often come with job roles attached - Mario and Luigi are plumbers, Animal Crossing's Isabelle is a secretary, and Peach is a, well, a princess who doesn't do anything other than be rescued and looked after by an army of Toads? Who knows? That doesn't mean that they can't enjoy other activities or job roles,...
News Decade-Old DS Game Dragon Quest V Re-Entered The Japanese Charts This Week
Almost 2,000 copies were sold
Despite being just over ten years old (or way older than that when you consider its original release on the Super Famicom), Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride managed to leap right up into the top 30 best-selling games in Japan this week. The game sold 1,905 copies to make it into 28th position, and as you can...
News Level-5 Releases Debut Trailer For The Original Yo-Kai Watch On Switch
And it looks better than ever
Although the west is still waiting for Yo-Kai Watch 4 to be released locally on the Nintendo Switch, Level-5 has already announced another game from the same series is headed to the system. This time it's a high-definition makeover of the original 3DS game that started it all. Yo-Kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch –...
News River City Melee Mach!! Arrives On The Japanese Switch eShop This October
Prepare to fight!
Earlier this year, prior to the reveal of River City Girls, Arc System Works announced Downtown Rantou Koushinkyoku Mach!! – a new entry in the Kunio-kun series – for the Switch and multiple other platforms. This title goes by the name River City Melee Mach!! here in the west and according to news within the latest issue of...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Knocks Fire Emblem: Three Houses Off Top Spot
Mario's-a-number one (again)
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 29th July - 4th August, revealing that Fire Emblem: Three Houses has lost its top place position. The internal rivalry between Nintendo mascots is fierce at the moment, as it was actually Super Mario Maker 2 which managed to sell enough copies to just take first place...
News Sega Ages Columns II Arrives On The Japanese Switch eShop Later This Week
Includes the original Columns
A Japanese release date for the next Sega Ages titles has been locked in. That's right, Switch owners in this location will be able to download Columns II: The Voyage Through Time on 8th August for 999 yen. Of course, if you have access to a Japanese Switch eShop account, you can always buy and download the game ahead...
News Square Enix Announces A Demo For Dragon Quest XI S
No release date mentioned
Switch owners already got a dose of the Hero when he arrived in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate earlier this week, but soon, Dragon Quest enthusiasts (at least in Japan) will be able to play as him once again, in a demo based on his own upcoming outing, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. At the...
News Nintendo's Very Own Gaming Expo Returns This October With Nintendo Live 2019 Kyoto
Featuring on-stage shows
Nintendo has revealed that it will once again host its very own gaming expo in Japan this year, with Nintendo Live 2019 Kyoto scheduled to take place in October. It'll be kicking off on 13th October at the Kyoto International Conference Center, likely following a similar format to last year's event. It will feature...
Japanese Charts Fire Emblem: Three Houses' Dominance Continues With Another Number One
Sells more than 143,000 copies
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 22nd - 28th July, revealing that Fire Emblem: Three Houses has taken command of the region and debuted at number one. The game sold an estimated 143,130 copies at retail to achieve the feat, beating other Switch newcomer Fishing Spirits: Nintendo Switch Version to the...
News Despite Increased Sales, Nintendo's Year-On-Year Profits Have Almost Halved
Exchange rates and 'other factors' to blame this quarter
While the overall picture in sales terms was relatively rosy for Nintendo according to its latest financial figures, shareholders aren't doing quite as well as the revenue figures suggest. Despite increases in sales and a 2.4% increase in revenue to 172 billion yen, profit has taken a 45.7%...
The catch? It's only in Japan
Nintendo's Japanese YouTube channel has just uploaded a trailer showing off a new update for the Switch version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Version 1.3.0 – out now in Japan – adds in Labo VR support, allowing players to view and work their way through a series of
News 3DS YouTube Service Ends In Japan This September
Turning off the lights
Nintendo's website has revealed Google's YouTube service for the 3DS will end on 3rd September in Japan. After this date, users in this region will no longer be able to download the free app from the 3DS eShop. The YouTube app for the 3DS originally went live in 2013 and followed on from the YouTube update for the Wii U...
News My Nintendo Offers Free Fire Emblem: Three Houses Physical Goodies, But Only In Japan
Including masking tape?
With Fire Emblem: Three Houses launching today on Switch, everyone in the Nintendo Life office is feeling the hype. So much so, in fact, that we almost considered flying one of the team over to Japan to pick up these My Nintendo freebies. Almost. Yes, the Japanese My Nintendo store is now selling (well, kind of selling) some...
News Disney Tsum Tsum Festival Receiving A Themed Switch Bundle In Japan
Includes a revised Switch model
One game you might have completely forgotten about was Disney Tsum Tsum Festival, originally revealed earlier this year for the Switch during the February Nintendo Direct. The game based on the insanely popular Tsum Tsum franchise rolls onto the Switch in Japan on 10th October. To celebrate this particular launch,...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Loses Top Spot To Professional Baseball Spirits
Marvel Ultimate Alliance debuts in top ten
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 15th - 21st July, revealing that Super Mario Maker 2 has fallen from first place for the first time since it launched last month. The game shifted another 46,065 copies this week, but it wasn't anywhere close to reaching the 175,189 sales achieved by new...
News Here Are The 30 Most-Downloaded Switch Games During The First Half Of 2019 In Japan
Retail and digital-only games included
Nintendo has shared two new lists on the Japanese eShop, revealing which games have been the most successful on its digital store throughout the first half of 2019. The first list shows the top 30 most-downloaded games that are also available in physical form, while the second shows just those which are...
News Japanese Celebs To Show Off Their Virus-Busting Skills In The Dr. Mario World Championship
Pill-popping fun
Are you enjoying playing Dr. Mario World on your smartphone? If you consider yourself to be a bit of a virus-busting addict, then it might interest you to know that on 26th July at 8pm Japanese time, LINE will broadcasting the Dr. Mario World Virus Repel Championship, which sounds like a whole heap of fun to us. This tournament...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Stays In Top Spot, As Switch Sales Slightly Drop
God Eater 3 debuts in second place
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 8th - 14th July. Nintendo's Super Mario Maker 2 has managed to hold onto the top spot, making this its third consecutive week in first! The game managed to shift another 54,720 copies, with sales now surpassing the 300,000 mark. Bandai Namco's God Eater 3 was the...
News Sega Ages Columns II "Coming Soon" To The Switch eShop In Japan
Includes the original game
Following on from the local release of Wonder Boy: Monster Land and Virtua Racing, Sega has now revealed the next AGES on the way is Columns II: The Voyage Through Time. This classic puzzle game is priced at 999 yen and is "coming soon" to the Japanese Switch eShop. The game features an arcade mode, featuring two game...
News Jupiter Is Releasing Picross Lord Of The Nazarick On The Japanese Switch eShop Next Week
Solve more than 500 puzzles
The picross expert Jupiter has announced a new game coming to the Japanese eShop next week. It's another picross title based on the novel/anime series, Overlord. Picross Lord of the Nazarick livens up the standard picross experience we've grown accustomed to by featuring characters and a story based on the Overlord...
Video Latest Japanese Sword And Shield Commercial Shows New Pokémon In Action
Bigger than before
The Pokémon Company has posted a new one-minute commercial for the upcoming Switch release Pokémon Sword and Shield on its Japanese YouTube channel. This brief clip showcases the many different environments in the Galar region while also showing some of the newer pocket monsters and human characters previously revealed in a...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Keeps Top Spot As Switch Sales Soar
An impressive week
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 1st - 7th July, revealing that Super Mario Maker 2 has managed to keep hold of its first-place position with style. The game shifted another 83,204 copies this week to stay at number one; new PS4 title Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers came in second with 22,260 copies for...
News Nintendo Not Actively Pursuing Large-Scale Collaborations, But Open To Partnerships
To increase the value of its IP
At Nintendo's 79th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders recently, president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked what Nintendo thought about new competitors entering the video game market and how exactly it went about collaborating with other companies on projects. This was his reply: We consider it to be a very good...
News Nintendo Explains How It Would Combat A Hostile Takeover
“We do have systems in place”
During Nintendo’s recent Shareholder Q&A, company president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked what the video game giant would do in the event of a "hostile takeover" if another company wanted its intellectual property. Furukawa responded by explaining how Nintendo had not adopted any "anti-takeover" measures, but...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Maker 2 Jumps Straight In At Number One
"Mario number one! Wahoo!"
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 24th - 30th June, revealing that Super Mario Maker 2 has snagged itself another number one position. Yes, hot on the heels of its UK number one earlier in the week, Mario's latest creative adventure has managed to top the charts in Nintendo's home country, selling 196,153...
News Harvest Moon: Friends Of Mineral Town Is Getting A Switch Remake
The GBA title returns
A Nintendo Switch remake of Game Boy Advance game Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town has been confirmed for release in Japan. Very little has been revealed for the new game - such as how, and if, it'll expand upon or reimagine the original - but we do know that it appears to blend content from both Friends of Mineral Town...
News The Pokémon Company Is Releasing An Official Line Of Bubble Teas This Summer
Drink 'em all
Pikachu Bubble Mango Smoothie Bubble Tea - 756 yen There's nothing better than an ice cold drink on a hot day, that's why The Pokémon Company is releasing a special range of Pokémon bubble teas in Sweet Dynasty Bubble Tea Drink Bars across Japan this summer. There will be a total of six different teas to select from and prices...
News Nintendo Opens Technical Support Twitter Account In Japan
Just don't expect a reply
Nintendo has set up a new Twitter account to provide support information about its products and services to Japanese followers. This one is a bit different to its existing accounts, and far less social, as it won't reply to any comments, questions or direct messages from followers. It's simply there to notify users about...
News Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega39’s Announced For Switch In Japan
Hatsune Miku's Switch debut
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku is set to make her first appearance on Nintendo Switch in Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega39’s. The game is a rhythm title which features songs made using the Hatsune Miku Vocaloid software; there are 101 songs in total, with 100 coming from past games and the extra one being a new theme...
News Weekly Famitsu Drops The 3DS From Its Release Schedule Section
A sign of the times
One noticeable difference at this year's E3 was the absence of the 3DS. Although the five-in-one Atooi Collection was announced for the platform during the Limited Run presentation, Nintendo did not showcase any new games for its 3D device. If it wasn't already evident the handheld system has come to the end of
Japanese Charts Yo-Kai Watch 4 Takes Number One Despite Lower-Than-Usual Series Sales
Switch takes nine of the top ten
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 17th - 23rd June, revealing that Yo-Kai Watch 4 has jumped straight to number one in its first week on sale. The game sold an estimated 150,721 copies during its opening week, easily fending off second place title Yakuza 5 - which also released as a new title this...
News Japanese Mega Drive Mini Collector's Edition Comes With 22 Tiny Cartridges
A framed set of cute (mock) carts
The Mega Drive Mini is shaping up to be an excellent tribute to Sega's classic 16-bit console, and it's taken many years of sub-standard efforts (and, arguably, the huge success of Nintendo's HDMI-friendly Mini Classic consoles) to get to this point. With M2 taking charge of emulation on this one, Mega Drive /...
News Nintendo, Creatures And Game Freak Apply For 'Dynamax Band' Trademark In Japan
Increase the size of your Pokémon
One of the new features in Pokémon Sword and Shield is the "dynamax" ability – allowing trainers to transform their pocket monsters into giants on the battlefield for a short period of time. There are also raids in the game where you can fight alongside other players to defeat these overly large Pokémon. With...
News Cadence Of Hyrule Was The Most Downloaded Game On Switch Last Week In Japan
An instant success
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer had a cracking debut in Japan, debuting at number one in the Switch eShop charts for the region last week. The news comes from Nintendo's regular Japanese eShop update, which has revealed the top ten most downloaded games for the period of 13th - 19th June. It sits just ahead of...
News It Looks Like The Final Japanese 3DS Title Has Been Canned
The true end of an era?
While Nintendo won't come out and actually say it, the 3DS is pretty dead now. All of the major publishers and developers have shifted their attention to the Switch, and as a result, the older handheld system has seen its list of releases dry up completely. 2019 is looking pretty barren for 3DS owners as far
News Sega Ages Space Harrier "Coming Soon" To The Switch eShop In Japan
Relive the third-person rail shooter
The game site for the Sega Ages Space Harrier is now live. The third-person rail shooter is "coming soon" to the Japanese Switch eShop and will set you back 925 yen. This new version captures the spirit of the original 1985 arcade version while also adding in features from the 2012 3DS title such as widescreen...
Japanese Charts Switch Games Take The Top Nine Spots, Story of Seasons Debuts In First
Another solid week
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 10th - 16th June, revealing that Nintendo has had another stellar week in the region. Doraemon: Story of Seasons managed to jump right in to first place this week, comfortably outselling the game in second place which just so happens to be the mighty, evergreen Super Smash Bros...
News Looks Like Tetris 99 Is Getting A $30 Physical Edition In Japan
Will it make it to the west?
A new listing on Nintendo's Japanese website suggests that a physical edition of the Nintendo Switch Online exclusive game Tetris 99 will soon be available to purchase. The listing shows a 'boxed edition' which is scheduled to release on 9th August for 3,148 yen before tax (approx. $29 / £23). It includes the main...
News Spike Chunsoft Has "Exciting News" To Share On 19th June
Could it be Switch related?
You normally wouldn't expect a live stream the week after E3, but that's exactly what Spike Chunsoft has planned. The Japanese developer will be sharing some "exciting news" via Twitch.tv on 19th June. The company has previously worked on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, is known for the Danganronpa series and will...
Japanese Charts Smash Ultimate Gets Knocked Off Top Spot By Rage 2
But Switch still dominates
Famitsu's Japanese chart figures are now in for 3rd - 9th June, revealing that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has been booted off top spot. That particular honour goes to newcomer Rage 2 this time around, which sold an estimated 12,146 copies to get there. Another PS4 title, Everybody's Golf VR is the only other newcomer,...
News This Dragon Quest Hori Slime Controller For Switch Is Hella Cute
You can even dress it up
Yesterday, Nintendo gave us a solid release date for Dragon Quest XI S, which arrives on Switch on September 27th. It was also revealed that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is getting a
News Be Wary Of Inserting Faulty Switch Game Cards Into Your Console, Warns Japanese Repair Store
Common sense, you could argue...
One of the big advantages the Switch has over its rivals is the fact that it uses reasonably robust game cards as the delivery method for its software, rather than delicate and easily-damaged optical media. However, even Switch carts can be abused and misused, and recent spate of faulty games damaging consoles has...
Feature Bit Summit 7 Was Bigger, Better And Packed With Switch Goodness
Our report from the show floor
Based in beautiful Kyoto, Japan, in what started out as a sparse event in something close to a gymnasium, Bit Summit has rapidly become the second-largest independent games showcase in the country, just behind the grand spectacle that is Tokyo Game Show. Now situated in central Kyoto's Miyakomesse event centre, this...
News Sega Trademarks Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Is the 2006 Wii game making a return?
It looks like something really is going on with the Super Monkey Ball series. Following on from Sega filing a trademark for Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball at the start of May, Gematsu has discovered the company also trademarked Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz in the same month, on 21st May. Whil
