In 2025, the Japanese spent record amounts on video games and consoles, according to the Japanese government. In households with two or more people, average spending on games and consoles reached $12, exceeding the $11.7 mark for the first time since 2010.
For comparison, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, this figure was $9.1.
The frequency of console purchases per 100 households was 0.047, almost twice as high as in 2024 year, but lower than the record in 2011, when PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS were released. Average gaming spending reached $13.5, the best result since 2010.
Experts attribute the increase in spending to the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, which sold more than 4.3 million in seven months, as well as the popularity of Mario Kart World (2.8 million copies) and Pokémon Legends: Z-A (2.7 million copies in three months).
In the last three months of 2025, the Japanese purchased approximately 1.9 million Switch 2 consoles, while PS5 - 250 thousand, and Xbox Series - only 4.4 thousand.
The data shows that even with financial difficulties, the Japanese continue to actively spend on video games, considering them as an important part of leisure.
