The Asian region has been the admirer of games since the very start. Starting from 1980, when the PAC-man started making rounds in people’s lives, till 2022, this has become an industry of around 197 billion US$ in 2022. With the gaming industry ranging to three billion, half of the population comes from Asia. This region has been home to the world’s popular industries with a hub for trending innovations. Most of these games are played on mobiles. The mobile game market has outgrown the console and PC games. There was 70% of the gaming industry revenue generated back in 2019 in Asia. There are different video games and their branches being opened by the relevant game developers and authorities.
Game localization services have also been in demand for the Asian region since the very beginning. Japanese video game market is one of the biggest video game markets in the world. Japan is home to the world’s biggest hardware makers including Sony, and Nintendo. Also, it is interesting to note that the world’s first localized game came from Japan.
- Japan and Korea are two of the most mature marketplaces for the game, contributing to 77% of the revenue.
- India happens to be one of the leading markets in the gaming industry and constituting up to 50% of all gamers. This game was localized for the US, and the original name of Puckman was changed to PAC-man.
All these stats indicate the need for localization of games for the Asian region, and how it can be a great host market for the games.
Table of Contents
Large and Growing Population
The continent of Asia is one of the most populous regions in the world. The Asian region has a large and growing population. As the United Nations quotes, the population of Asia is expected to reach 5.3 billion by 2050. This addresses the concern of gaming companies and their potential in Asia. the game developers can consider these factors and can use this in their favor. The potential market has been discovered and the companies should see how they can hit the masses with the right game choices. It is also important to note that the Maldives is the least populated country in the Asian region, yet it offers itself as a great potential market for the games.
Rising Incomes
World’s few biggest and mega economies stem from Asia, Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, and Thailand. These are a few of the world’s economies that contribute to the overall GDP immensely. There are many underdeveloped countries in the Asian region, and interestingly, their declining economies are not becoming a hindrance to their passion for mobiles and games. For instance, in Pakistan, there are up to 194 million mobile subscribers as the statistics tell. This figure makes Pakistan have the highest penetration rate in the region of South Asia. Likewise, many other countries have collapsing economies, yet their mobile users’ stats are surprising. The rising number of mobile subscribers and fans of games makes this continent ideal for game localization. India alone contributes 50% to all gamers from all over the world.
Moreover, it is imperative to note that businesses should always consider a competent and local translation company for an accurate and culturally relevant translation.
Increased Internet Access
With the passage of time and technology getting advanced, the internet penetration rate in Asia stands at 67.4% in 2022. Moreover, it is surprisingly double the rate in 2011. Brunei, South Korea, and Macao have been the top destinations with the most internet penetration rate. These statistics imply the internet access that people have in the Asian region, which paves the way to smooth downloads of games. As more people in Asia have access to the internet, the rate of looking for fun games, and downloading these has relatively increased. Therefore, it makes it evident for the game developers and companies to work on the localization of the games by hiring a professional translation company primarily.
The Popularity of Mobile Gaming in Asia
With the increased popularity of mobile phones in Asia, mobile games are also getting popular. Mobile games are more popular in Asia as compared to PC or console games. This is because mobile phones are affordable and accessible to people in Asia. It is important to mention here that for effective localization services, it is evident to hire a professional translation company so that localization goes well.
Government Support for the Gaming Industry
The governments of all countries support their gaming industry abundantly these days. As this industry contributes to the country’s economy, creating enormous opportunities for the masses. Multiple countries, including Japan, Korea, India, and others are now supporting their gaming industry so that it reflects a prosperous and developed country. The support of the gaming industry also motivates game developers from different countries to go for game localization. Ooredoo, A Qatari international company with headquarters in Doha, has been garnering appreciation for revolutionizing esports entertainment. They have recently launched a game in the world’s and Asia’s least populated country, Maldives, with the name Gamer’s Land in Maldives. This venture had the full support of the government, and they hope to explore more opportunities in the gaming industry after this step.
Conclusion
Game localization has become vital for every region in this digitalized world. The Asian region has emerged as the most ideal market for games and stuff. The biggest Asian economies such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, and others have been always on their toes to work on their games and gaming industry. This makes this region a potential market for game developers from the West and all over the world.