Tag: Japan - Page 4
News Bandai Namco Studios Has Reportedly Reduced Its Staff By Over 100 People
More grim figures emerge
Bandai Namco Studios has reportedly reduced its staff by more than 100 people within the last year, as reported by Automaton. The studio, known for Switch games such as New Pokémon Snap, Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!, and the upcoming Pac-Man title Shadow Labyrinth, had stated in a company
Japanese Charts Donkey Kong Is Still The King Despite Diminishing Sales
Another win checked off
Famitsu has provided the latest boxed charts data for Japan and, perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, it's another win for Nintendo as Donkey Kong Country Returns HD claims the top spot once again with an additional 22,093 units shifted. There are a few new additions this week, with Black Myth: Wukong getting a physical...
News Forget The Retail Delay, Nintendo's Tucking Alarmo In At Japanese Hotels
Wake up the Nintendo way
Nintendo's brand synergy goes deep. Real deep. If visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan wasn't enough Mario for you, you can now rent an Alarmo for the night at some of the park's hotels so you can even have Nintendo on the mind while you sleep. In a post on Nintendo's Japanese website, the company...
News Switch Is Getting A New Manga Reader This March
Releasing on the eShop in Japan
It might be late in the Switch's life, but it seems there are still new applications coming to the system's eShop. With this in mind, 'Shogakukan' will be launching a "manga reader" for the hybrid device on 13th March 2025. A post by Tatsuki Waki of the Monthly 'CoroCoro Comic' shared this news. As you can see, users...
News Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gets Limited In-Game Event In Japan
With prizes, too!
Nintendo has announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be hosting a limited Valentine's Day event in Japan. Available from 1st - 14th February 2025, the event will introduce new 'Heart Chocolate' and 'Heart Rose Bouquet' in-game items to be gifted to your fellow residents. Not only that, but 1000 players who partake in the...
News Square Enix Revives Super Mario RPG Soundtrack With Three New Music Products
Including music from the 1996 SNES version
If you're a fan of Super Mario RPG's soundtrack, you might want to check out this new release from Square Enix. It's "three new music products" including the original soundtrack, original sound box and original sound vinyl box and they will be going on sale in Japan on 9th April 2025. The good news is that...
Japanese Charts Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Continues Its Winning Streak
While Ender Magnolia gets off to a decent start
If the pre-release backlash regarding the price of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD was anything to go by, we might have expected the game to crash and burn mere days after it launched. Alas, the internet is and forever will be its own little bubble, and the game has topped the Japanese charts once again...
News Japan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment Methods
Change will come into effect in March
Nintendo has announced that the Japanese Switch eShop will soon no longer accept overseas credit cards or PayPal accounts as valid payment methods. As reported by VGC, the change will come into effect from 25th March 2025, with Nintendo citing "fraudulent use" as a main contributing factor behind the decision...
News Capcom Is Relying On Monster Hunter To Achieve Its FY2025 Financial Goals
Otherwise, numbers are slightly down
Capcom has released its financial results for the nine months ended 31st December 2024 in FY2025 (thanks, GamesIndustry). In short, though net sales and net income are both down year-on-year, the company states that the results are currently "in-line" with its fiscal plan. Net sales fell by 16.3% to ¥88.9...
News Is Skies Of Arcadia Coming Back? New SEGA Trademark Gets Fans Excited
Moons, give me strength...
Sega has filed trademarks for Skies of Arcadia and Eternal Arcadia in Japan — and plenty of Dreamcast and GameCube fans are going wild worldwide. The trademarks — one for the game's English name, and the other for its Japanese name — were made on 16th January, and then made public on 24th January (thanks, Gematsu
News Nippon Ichi Software's President, Tetsuhisa Seko, Has Passed Away
Executive joined the company in 2002
Nippon Ichi Software has announced that its president and CEO, Tetsuhisa Seko, has sadly passed away at the age of 54. Born on 21st January, Showa 46 (1971 which, despite NIS stating his age as 55, would make him 54 at the time of his death), Seko joined the company back in March 2002 after previous stints at...
Japanese Charts Fans Go Bananas For Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
King of Swing (and of the charts)
We've got an updated look at the Japanese software charts courtesy of Famitsu and, given the arrival of a new Nintendo joint, there was never any doubt about who was going to be in first place. Yes, much like in the UK, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has swung its way to gold in its debut week after shifting an...
News Super Technos World: River City & Technos Arcade Classics Announced For Switch
Update: Worldwide release confirmed
To kick off the new year, Arc System Works has announced Technos The World: Kunio-kun & Arcade Collection for the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms. This information was shared in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu. This new collection will launch in Japan on 24th April 2025 and first-print...
News Nintendo Joins 'Fuji TV' Commercial Boycott Following Sex Scandal
One of many companies pulling ads
Nintendo is pulling commercials from airing on the Japanese station Fuji Television (Fuji TV) following an ongoing sex scandal centred around Masahiro Nakai, one of the station's biggest hosts. As reported by Nikkei (thanks, Automaton), in December 2024, a 90 million yen ($569,000) out-of-court settlement followed...
News Nintendo's Average Salary Crowned The Second-Highest In Western Japan Last Year
Despite the annual salary falling a little
A new report from Japanese business journal Diamond Online has provided a rundown of companies with the highest average annual salaries in Western Japan for FY2024, and Nintendo is right up there with the best of them (thanks, Automaton). According to the report, Nintendo paid an average annual salary of...
Japanese Charts Freedom Wars Remastered Makes Its Top Ten Debut
Though Mario Party Jamboree is still the king
Famitsu has posted the latest boxed sales charts for Japan, and this time, Freedom Wars Remastered makes its debut on the Switch and the PS5. Rather predictably, the Switch version sold more copies at 8,277 (4,829 on the PS5) but couldn't quite manage to climb the ranks and claim the top prize. It's the...
News Nintendo's New Japan-Exclusive Donkey Kong Merch Range Goes Hard
You'll either love it or hate it
Nintendo has just unleashed its second DK rerelease on the Switch with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a game that's seemingly taken a few cues from Emperor Palpatine on how to cheat death ("Somehow..."). To celebrate, the firm has also launched a range of Donkey Kong-themed merchandise in Japan and, well, it goes...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Party Jamboree Surpasses 1 Million Units Sold
Keeping the party going
We're back with the latest Japanese charts folks; the first of 2025! It's a little bit different for this first go around, too. Famitsu has posted software sales figures for the two weeks of 23rd-29th December and 30th Dec - 5th January, but no hardware figures. We'll collate the top ten games for both weeks here, and...
Feature A Trip To Machida, The Real-Life 'Pallet Town' That Inspired Pokémon
Pokén around
The first generation of Pokémon games features some of the most iconic locations in the entire franchise. The eerie Lavender Town, the winding Viridian Forest, and the quaint Pallet Town where all players start their journey. Pallet Town isn’t just a fanciful creation, but draws real-life inspiration from Pokémon creator Satoshi...
News SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 3 And Vol. 4 For Switch
Update: Pre-orders go live
SNK has announced new ACA NEOGEO Selections for Nintendo Switch - including Vol. 3 and Vol. 4. These new volumes will be launching exclusively in Japan on 10th April 2025, with each collection featuring 10 games previously released as ACA NEOGEO games on the Switch eShop. Here's a look at each collection (via Gematsu):...
News Freedom Wars Remastered Japanese Switch Box Art Revealed, Here's A First Look
Update: English language support confirmed
In September, Bandai Namco surprised fans with the announcement of Freedom Wars Remastered for the Nintendo Switch. It will be arriving in January 2025 and is a remaster of Japan Studio's PlayStation Vita exclusive which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Fans have now been given a first look at the...
News Nintendo Reveals Japan's "Top 30" Most Downloaded Switch eShop Games Of 2024
Suika Game takes out the top spot
As we approach the end of 2024, Nintendo has revealed the most downloaded Switch eShop games of the year in Japan. As you might expect, the usual titles and series are on there like Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter. There are also a few surprises, indie representatives and viral...
News Japanese Game Creators Reveal Their "Top 20" Video Games Of 2024
Here's the full list
It's the end of the year and as we round up the best games and all sorts of other interesting facts and figures, Weekly Famitsu's latest issue (released on 26th December 2024) has revealed the "most popular games played in 2024" according to 181 industry figures and "game loving celebrities" in Japan. As explained by Persona...
News Night Slashers: Remake Is Getting A Physical Switch Release In 2025
Japan only, but English language support is included
Following the release of the beat 'em up Night Slashers: Remake in September, a physical release has now been confirmed. The catch is it's Japan only for now. Fortunately, it does include English language support. It's around the $30 USD mark (or your regional equivalent) on sites like Play-Asia...
Japanese Charts What Successor? Switch Hardware Sales Top 100,000
Spare a thought for PS5 and Xbox
Nintendo's gamble to save its 'Switch 2' announcement for the New Year has seemingly paid off - at least in Japan, anyway. Starting with software, Super Mario Party Jamboree has once again topped the boxed charts, selling a further 133,542 copies and inching ever closer to a total of 1 million lifetime sales. Dragon...
Reminder New Mario Kart And Animal Crossing Lego Sets Launch Next Month
Here's another look
Earlier this year, LEGO announced it was extending its Nintendo range with the addition of a new Mario Kart line and more Animal Crossing sets. Nintendo's Japanese website has now issued a reminder that three new Animal Crossing sets and six new Mario Kart sets will be launching on 1st January 2025. The six Mario Kart sets...
Feature "It's Fun, So It's Okay!" - Celebrating Takashi Tezuka's Astonishing 40-Year Nintendo Career
A look back at a glittering catalogue
Takashi Tezuka seems like a good laugh, the kind of chap who knows how to have fun. Despite all the Master-Sword-waving and PR-related hijinx from fellow Nintendo luminary Shigeru Miyamoto over the years, you still get the impression he's merciless in the workplace — an exacting, intimidating,...
Japanese Charts Super Mario Party Jamboree Is On A Roll
You Got A(nother) Star!
Sigh. Another week, another Jamboree win. Yes, the latest look at the physical software charts from Japan is in (thanks, Famitsu), and Super Mario Party Jamboree has rolled yet another winner, putting an additional 95,817 sales on top of its already impressive total. Overall, things look very same-y this week, with the...
Japanese Charts FANTASIAN Sneaks Into The Top 10 As Mario Party Rolls Another Winner
Lucky dice
Well, this is becoming something of a trend, isn't it? After retaking the throne last week, Super Mario Party Jamboree has stuck around at the top of the Japanese charts in Famitsu's latest look. In fact, the top three are unchanged this week, with Jamboree, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe all maintaining their...
Round Up The First Reviews For Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong Country Are In
Here's what the critics had to say
Super Nintendo World's Donkey Kong Country expansion has officially opened its doors in Japan and the first reviews are now rolling in. This new area in Super Nintendo World comes packed with new activities, exclusive food and merchandise, and a new Mine Cart Ride. Generally, the impressions seem to be quite...
News Man Caught Selling Hacked Pokémon Sun Save Data Arrested By Japanese Police
Gotta catch 'em all
If you cast your mind back to earlier this year, you might recall that a man was arrested in Japan for selling modded data from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Well, it's clear that not everyone was paying attention to the repercussions, as last week, Japanese police announced that they had arrested a man on similar charges for...
News Looks Like Fire Emblem & Paper Mario Dev Intelligent Systems Is Hiring
Multiple positions available for "popular game titles"
Nintendo subsidiary Intelligent Systems — best known for developing the Fire Emblem, Paper Mario, and WarioWare series' — is currently hiring. Spotted by reader Leaf Garrison, the job is open for (via Google translate) "developing popular game titles" and has been open since 8th November...
News Shmup Fans Rejoice! 'DoDonPachi True Death' Is Coming To Switch In Japan This Month
It's true!
Off the back of last year's exquisite Dodonpachi DaiOuJou Blissful Death Re:Incarnation, publisher Live Wire has announced that it's bringing DoDonPachi True Death to Switch in Japan on 19th December. True Death (or 'DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou', in Japan) is the sixth entry in Cave's vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up series, initially...
Japanese Charts Mario Party Jamboree Ends Dragon Quest III's Reign
Back for another star
After two big weeks of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake dominance, Famitsu's latest look at the Japanese physical software charts has a new champion. Super Mario Party Jamboree has rolled back into the top spot, with an additional 56,032 sales pushing the latest board game bonanza past 500,000 total sales and ahead of Dragon...
News Nintendo Postpones Retail Sales Of Its New Sound Clock Alarmo (Japan)
A late start
Nintendo's new sound clock Alarmo had a limited Switch Online rollout when it originally arrived in October, with the plan to eventually give it a wider retail release around the globe. Unfortunately, it seems this retail release has now been postponed in Japan. While Nintendo originally intended to release the clock to the general...
News Nintendo Store Tokyo's Latest Gacha Goodies Are A Range Of Zelda: TOTK Zonai Devices
You're gunna hear me Rauru
Remember earlier this year when Nintendo revealed its range of controller button fidget toys, sold exclusively in the gacha machines of its Japan stores? Well, it looks like there's a new collection in town to get us envious all over again. As spotted by a whole host of people today on Twitter and BlueSky, it appe
News Nintendo Is Ranked The Third Most Sought-After Employer In Japan
Gee, wonder why?
A new survey conducted by Japanese employment agency Gakujo reveals that Nintendo is the third most sought-after employer in the region. This comes via Otaku Soken (thanks, Automaton) and is based on responses from 5,476 university students across Japan. Nintendo is the highest company from the entertainment sector, and is only...
Japanese Charts There's No Stopping Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Another big one for Square's latest
Famitsu is back with our latest look at the physical software sales chart for Japan, and it's another week in the top spot for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Square Enix's latest pulled in an additional 91,362 copies between Switch and PS5 this week, which is far from its debut's 821,770 total, but it's still...
News Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong Country Entrance Revealed, Here's A Look
As the "highest tier" guests get an early tour
Earlier this month, Nintendo finally lifted the lid on Super Nintendo World's expansion Donkey Kong Country. It's scheduled to open next month on 11th December 2024 and ahead of the big launch, Universal has revealed the entrance and welcomed the first guests to the park. As highlighted by our friends...
Random Kirby Teams Up With Heinz For A Saucy New Collaboration In Japan
Dededelicious
Everyone's favourite pink puffball, Kirby, is teaming up with Heinz (you know, the tomato ketchup guys) for a new range of sauces in Japan. Well, that's not a sentence we thought we'd be writing today, but we can't say we're surprised. Shared by the official Heinz Twitter account, the Kirby range will be launching in late November...
News Nintendo's Official Magazine For Winter 2024 Gets English Digital Release
Featuring a smouldering Bowser
Whether you like it or not, Winter is finally upon us and Nintendo is waving goodbye to the sunny season with an all-new online magazine. The full 84-page 'zine shared today on Nintendo's official Japanese website is, as you might expect, written in Japanese, but those who haven't been doing their Duolingo need not...
Random Guilty Gear Strive's Latest Update Apparently Censors "Inappropriate Angles"
Naughty, naughty
Ahead of the launch of Guilty Gear Strive on the Switch early next year, Arc System Works has this week rolled out a new update for the game which reportedly makes some notable changes to the title's 'Digital Figure' mode (aka its photo mode). If you now try to view certain fighters from questionable angles, the characters will...
Japanese Charts Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake's Launch Sales Are Astronomical
Approaching 1 million in total already
Famitsu has shared the latest sales data for physical software in Japan, and for Square Enix's Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, it's a monumental success. The game has sold an incredible 641,195 copies on the Switch and a further 180,575 on the PS5, totalling 821,770 during its opening week. This likely makes it...
News After Almost 30 Years, Japan Finally Has A New Best-Selling Pokémon Game
Finally overtaking Red and Green
We knew that it would only be a matter of time, but it seems it's finally official. According to Famitsu, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has become Japan's best-selling Pokémon game of all time. According to the Japanese outlet, ScaVi has shifted an impressive 8.3 million copies domestically to date, finally pushing...
News We're Really Jealous Of Japan's Incredible New Pokémon Gold & Silver Merch
Gotta buy 'em all
The Pokémon Company has revealed a new range of merch based on Pokémon Gold And Silver in celebration of Gen 2's 25th anniversary. We're going to be honest, we're quite jealous. A lot of merch can look pretty grim and tacky, but the selection on offer here is really quite nice. You've got bomber jackets, heat-changing mugs,...
News EarthBound 30th Anniversary Merch Will Include A Giant Mr Saturn Plushie
Big zoom
Classic SNES RPG EarthBound, known as Mother 2 in Japan, celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year — yes, really, no need to pinch yourself. But Nintendo and Hobonichi will be continuing to celebrate this seminal game later this month with a variety of promotions and merchandise in Japan. Let's start with Hobonichi and a brand...
News Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Japanese Switch Box Art Includes Reversible Cover
It always gets the cool version
Square Enix's long-awaited release Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is out this week on the Switch and if you're planning on picking up a physical copy, you might want to read on... It seems there are some notable differences with the box art and game cartridge. Once again, Japan gets the cool version - with a...
Random Japanese Clinic Closes To Let Staff Play Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
"All of the staff have changed their Jobs to 'Hero'"
We've all heard some kind of story about the furore that a brand new Dragon Quest game stirs up in Japan. Kids skip school, adults call in sick, and the original Dragon Quest III on Famicom even led to a number of arrests. Well, folks, history repeats itself — kind of — with the release of...
Japanese Charts Mario & Luigi Sail Past The Competition
While the PS5 Pro arrives in style
Famitsu has shared the latest look at the Japanese charts and Super Mario Party Jamboree has finally been kicked off the top spot by... more Mario. Yes, Nintendo's latest, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, hasn't been troubled by its somewhat mixed reception as the new RPG sold a sweet 63,441 cop
News Capcom's Hideaki Itsuno Helms New LightSpeed Development Studio In Japan
There's a Buzz around this LightSpeed
LightSpeed Studios, the team behind PUBG Mobile and survival RPG Undawn, has launched a new game development studio in Japan helmed by none other than Capcom legend Hideaki Itsuno (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz). Itsuno announced that he was stepping down from Capcom back in August, after over 30 years working at...
