Sony, Nintendo, and Konami shares hit all-time highs. Western studios close, while Japanese developers show growth

Five of Japan’s eight largest publicly traded gaming companies reached record stock prices in February and March 2025. Among them are Sony, Nintendo, Konami, Capcom, and Bandai Namco.

Analyst Dr. Serkan Toto shared the figures: 

  • Sony: reached an all-time high of 3,904 yen on February 18, 2025
  • Nintendo: 11,800 yen on February 19, 2025
  • Konami: 19,645 JPY on February 19, 2025
  • Capcom: 4,100 yen on February 21, 2025
  • Bandai Namco: 5,297 yen on March 21, 2025

Amid mass layoffs and studio closures across the Western industry, Japanese publishers are showing steady growth. Sony and Nintendo continue to dominate the console market, while Konami has strengthened its position in the AAA segment by releasing successful projects like Silent Hill 2. 

Capcom has shown steady profit growth for 13 consecutive years thanks to hits and well-managed sales of back-catalog games. 

Not everything was smooth sailing: Bandai Namco incurred losses due to the closure of the MMORPG Blue Protocol and the layoff of 100 employees. However, record profits are expected thanks to the new Elden Ring and Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO.

Unlike in the West, mass layoffs are less common in Japan. This is related not only to labor laws, but also to the financial stability of the companies. For example, Konami has raised salaries for the fourth year in a row, while Capcom increased starting salaries for new employees.

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Cover art author: Bandai Namco. Cover art source: Automaton Media