[현장] Tokyo Game Show 2024 presents a ‘new wave’ in the global gaming industry

Tokyo Game Show, a stepping stone to the 30 trillion yen global gaming market

(Photo = Yonhap News)

[알파경제=(고베) 우소연 특파원] According to the Nippon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), ‘Tokyo Game Show 2024’, the world’s largest game expo, opened on the 26th.

In this event, 535 companies from 44 countries and regions outside of Japan participated, marking the largest number in history.

As of 2023, the global game market size is approximately 30 trillion yen, and the industry base has expanded to the ‘Global South (emerging and developing countries)’.

(Photo = Yonhap News)

◇ Saudi Arabia builds ‘Qiddiya City’, an entertainment city near the capital Riyadh

In particular, countries such as Saudi Arabia are showing moves to make gaming a pillar of their domestic industry.

Inside the booth, illuminated by blue or pink neon, techno-style music was flowing, and there were DJ booths, bars, crane games, etc., and it was said that the large booth of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Qiddiya Gaming’ was making a splash in the venue.

In Saudi Arabia, construction of Qiddiya City, a large entertainment city with an area of ​​360 square kilometers, is underway near Riyadh, the capital.

The content that combines technology and science fiction exhibited this time is developed in a new city.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar, who oversees Saudi Arabia’s gaming industry, who came to Japan in time for the Tokyo Game Show, said he was creating a city built around gaming.

Haruhiro Tsujimoto, president of the organizing organization Computer Entertainment Association (CESA), emphasized, “The gaming industry is expanding globally, especially in Asia.”

At the Tokyo Game Show, Saudi Arabia’s ‘Qiddiya Gaming’ attracted attention by setting up a large booth.

Inside the booth, techno-style music played under blue and pink neon lights, and there was a DJ booth, bar, and crane game.

In Saudi Arabia, an entertainment city called ‘Qiddiya City’ is being built near Riyadh, the capital, and this exhibition showcased content that combines technology and science fiction.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar said, “Japanese games are loved all over the world,” and said that they plan to promote Arabic localization through cooperation with Japanese companies and continue to make active investments.

(Photo = Yonhap News)
◇ Japan-Malaysia strengthen collaboration in IT and digital content fields

According to the survey, the number of game players in the Asia-Pacific region by 2024 will be 1.8 billion, and the Middle East and Africa will have 500 million, exceeding North America (200 million) and Europe (400 million), suggesting the potential growth power of emerging countries.

An official from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation said in a recent media interview, “By providing Malaysia’s abundant talent, we can collaborate with Japanese companies.”

This also demonstrated the will to promote mutual development through technology and talent exchange between the two countries.

In particular, Malaysia has an excellent talent pool in the IT and digital content fields, providing opportunities for Japanese companies to utilize this to pursue more innovative projects.

Such collaboration will not only bring economic benefits to both countries, but will also play an important role in strengthening competitiveness in the global market.

The Tokyo Game Show is an important stage for major Japanese game conglomerates to appeal their content intellectual property (IP) to overseas visitors.

Through this, you can increase brand awareness in the global market and explore new business opportunities.

◇ Tokyo Game Show, a stepping stone to the global game market worth 30 trillion yen

Through its ‘transmedia strategy,’ Sega is targeting the global market by developing the same work across multiple media or platforms.

At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, movie footage from the popular ‘Sonic’ series will be screened at the booth, and new mobile games will also be released around the same time.

The official explained that the Sonic series is very popular in South America and the Middle East, and that these regions are viewed as promising markets.

An official from Koei Tecmo Games emphasized, “Emerging markets (such as the Global South) are a chunk of potential for growth in the gaming market.”

We are making advance investments to quickly localize IPs that are popular in Asia, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

As ‘E3’ in the US ends, Tokyo Game Show and Germany’s ‘Gamescom’ are receiving greater attention as major game exhibitions.

In particular, the Tokyo Game Show is receiving international attention, with admission reservations from more than 70 countries and regions.

Ten companies from Chile, South America, participated, and an official from the Chilean Embassy said, “I think the Tokyo Game Show is a window not only to Japan but also to Asia.”

In Chile, more than 100 gaming companies have been established and are working to foster the gaming industry as a new industry following the wine industry.

Amid the influx of foreign powers, Japanese game companies hold the key to making a mark in the 30 trillion yen global market by determining what kind of chemical reaction they can create. Attention is focused on their next move.

Alpha Economy Correspondent Woo So-yeon (wsy0327@alphabiz.co.kr)