In a recent interview, Naoya Shimokawa , president of Aquaplus , and Shinji Orito , co-founder of Key , shared valuable insights into the current visual novel . Both highlighted the challenges and strategies for keeping the genre relevant in a constantly evolving market.
Obstacles on global platforms
Shimokawa commented on the strict restrictions that visual novels face on Steam bishoujo character illustrations . He acknowledges that there is a divergence between Western and Japanese standards, but emphasizes that, even with these barriers, the platform is essential for reaching a global audience. After all, the Japanese market is shrinking, while the international audience is only growing.
Shinji Orito reinforced the importance of multilingual support from launch, ensuring that games reach fans in different regions. He also emphasized that current projects need a long lifecycle , often supported by anime adaptations and other media. This media mix not only expands reach but also maintains player interest for years.
What to expect from the future of Visual Novels
Despite the challenges, both producers remain optimistic. The key, they say, is balancing creativity and accessibility , adapting to global expectations without losing the essence that won over fans.
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Source: denfaminico
