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Every week we post the Japanese hardware and software sales charts, and for five weeks in a row now (it will likely be six tomorrow), a game called Yokai Watch 2 has dominated the number one spot with no competition. The original game in this series sold over 800,000 copies prior to the launch of it sequel, and has passed up one million in the last few weeks. The sequel has now already sold over two million copies in just one month, and all those numbers come from the Japanese market alone. That should change next year, as developer Level-5 intends to localize the game in other markets next year.
Speaking with Japanese website ZakZak, Level-5 President Akihiro Hino revealed that he’s aiming to bring
Yokai Watch to other markets next year.
“In regards to foreign markets, we have been taking a look at it in regards to Yokai Watch. We are in development planning to release it sometime next year. We think it has a big appeal as a very Japanese-ish fantasy story. We already have support from a foreign toy maker company saying that it will be a definite success.” — Akihiro Hino
Given that he’s already talked to toy-making companies, it sounds like this could be more than just the video games heading West.
Yokai Watch is drawing comparisons to Pokémon in Japan. Could it reach a similar level of global success?
No
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