Recently, there has been intense talk about the status of PlayStation in Japan. Sales statistics show that the PlayStation 5, at launch, is underperforming the Nintendo Wii U – although the console has sold out worldwide. Some think the small hardware shipments indicate a lack of interest in the Japanese giant’s home territory, and this sentiment was compounded by a wave of high-profile departures from Japan Studio’s development team.
However, PlatinumGames boss Atsushi Inaba feels different: “To be honest, we don’t feel that bad, or at least I haven’t felt the impact myself,” he told VGC. “That said, I do understand that the console industry in Japan is not what it used to be and when it does, the priorities of these great console makers will change, and it makes perfect sense to me.”
He continued, “I don’t know if this is an opinion out there, and I don’t have a personal investment, but just because PlayStation is from Japan doesn’t mean it should focus on the Japanese market. I don’t feel like that. At the same time, I don’t think it’s American now either: I think it’s international and doesn’t really belong to a country. That’s how I feel as a developer. “
In the same interview, however, Devil May Cry designer Hideki Kamiya pointed out Sony’s decision to break tradition with the PS5’s default controls as a sign that things could change internally: “My pride isn’t hurt like a Japanese – it’s just more that there are two camps that had two ways of doing things, and I think they are myopic leaning in one direction. I don’t understand the reasoning behind that. “
He added, “It’s just a little bit of disdain for the gaming cultures that have been around for decades as part of so many people’s lives. I feel like PS5 interfered with that and I don’t know if it made sense to do that. “
But Kamiya came to the conclusion that he does not foresee that “Japanese will be shunned for Sony” [game] makers all the way ”. He said, “It’s so hard to get a PS5 now that I don’t think we have enough accurate data on how things will eventually go in Japan.” Unfortunately, according to AMD, stock shortages are expected until late in the year.