2 min read
The seventh generation of video game consoles (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii era) wasn’t kind to the Japanese games industry.
For longtime fans of Japanese games, the decline was hard to miss – especially as American studios rose to dominance. It was the era of brown palettes, cinematic shooters, and bombastic spectacle. And the way the industry talked about Japanese titles often carried racist undertones – unacceptable then, and no better in hindsight. From Phil Fish’s so-called ‘tough love’ to G4’s X-Play ridiculing Japanese games, this period reflected some of the industry’s ugliest biases.
That mindset hasn’t entirely gone away, either. The devs behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 openly credited Final Fantasy as their key inspiration – but of course, the loudest takeaway was that this is what a “real” JRPG looks like now. The quiet part said out loud, as if we hadn’t been through this before.
The core issue – why Japanese games fell out of favor – lingered. And the many attempts to chase Western tastes? Largely forgettable.
“The Resurgence of Japanese Games” video contact sheet. Click the image for a bigger version.
In 2018, Archipel – a YouTube channel run by French expats – sat down with Japanese developers to reflect on what it meant to stay true to their craft during a time of uncertainty. The result is an emotional, deeply human look at creators trying to find meaning when the path forward wasn’t clear.
I found it hugely informative, and maybe you will too.