Gaming IndustryPC Gamer at Tokyo Game Show 2024 Day 1 report: PC gaming on the rise and a strong indie game showingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Gaming IndustryPC Gamer at Tokyo Game Show 2024 Day 1 report: PC gaming on the rise and a strong indie game showingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Andrea Salsi)
(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
Snake? Snake? Snaaaake!(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
Capcom is making Monster Hunter Wilds a big priority.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
For AAA, less is hopefully more
However, while the PC is getting more attention, there are overall fewer AAA games coming from major Japanese game makers. Japanese firms, despite some notable financial wins recently, such as Capcomselling over 13.9 million copiesof Resident Evil 2, or Tekken 8being a huge hitfor Bandai Namco, clearly seem to be focussing now (either purposely, or because of the huge industry-wise contraction we’ve seen over the last two years that’s led tohuge amounts of developers being let go) on quality over quantity. That means cashing more than ever on safe bets, such as remasters of classic games.
It wouldn’t be TGS without some mecha.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
It also explains why Japanese publishers like Sega, Capcom and Square Enix really are pushing into PC in a big way. Take the Sega-published new game from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Traditionally that would almost certainly have been a console exclusive, but now not only is the gamealready listed on Steam, and with a free prologue demo to play, too, but the game is releasing on PC day one.
Notice how prominent both ‘Windows’ and ‘Steam’ are on Metaphor: ReFantazio’s banner at Tokyo Game Show 2024.(Image credit: Atlas)
One of the Japanese firms that has seemingly suffered most from the industry contraction and newly focussed on releasing major AAA games on PC, as well as leaning heavily into remasters, is Sony, whichhas recently laid off 900 employees. But if you look at its activities recently, the pattern becomes clear. From PC releases ofGhost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut,Final Fantasy XVIandGod of War: Ragnaröck, and ontoHorizon: Forbidden West Complete Editionand the just-announcedHorizon: Zero Dawn Remaster(coming out on PC day one, you will notice), PC and remasters is a big Sony focus.
Sonic X Shadow: Generations is Sega’s big play this year.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals
SNK are properly back, with a major TGS 2024 presence.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
Indie games are more important than ever
Outside of the AAA scene, the smaller in-house studios now seem directed at producing games with shorter lead times. After all, development times on major games have really ballooned over the past 10 years. If you ask me, this strategy is so that publishers have a steady stream of smaller games to help keep money flowing in and, most importantly, keep share prices up each financial quarter.
There’s plenty of tasty PC gaming hardware on display at TGS this year.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
Then, hopefully, their major AAA play lands and is a success. But as we’ve seen this year, even established Japanese and Western game makers have struggled to land these supposed major hits, withStar Wars Outlawsthe most recent game tolaunch to ‘softer than expected’ sales.
Nightmare Operator, from the Japanese indie dev DDDistortion, looks promising.(Image credit: DDDistortion)
This situation (due especially to the harsh development costs of making big games now) has seen over the last 5 years many indie studios emerging, especially in Japan, producing low-budget games with big ideas. Indeed, there’s been so many that now there is aspecific Indie Game showas part of TGS 2024. And, guess what, almost all these games are launching on PC day one. Games likeNightmare OperatorandPlatform 8.
Bandai Namco’s press officer loving PC Gamer’s Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree magazine issue.(Image credit: Andrea Salsi)
As such, despite these crises within the wider industry, PC and its versions of all the biggest upcoming games seems to be the real winner of this Tokyo Game Show. And, as someone who has reported from TGS for many years, this really is quite unprecedented, as the PC has never normally been so visible at TGS. Even 10 years ago, it would have been unheard of for the PC to get so much attention here, but times have changed, and our beloved gaming platform of choice is now an area where, post console exclusives, all publishers are looking for growth.
The Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, Japan.(Image credit: Marco Zangirolami)
Tomorrow I’ll report in on Xbox, Konami and others' showings at Tokyo Game Show 2024, specifically in terms of what PC gamers can expect from the studios going forward. Exciting times lie ahead!
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‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids
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