In a recent interview, Naoya Shimokawa, president of Aquaplus, and Shinji Orito, co-founder of Key, shared valuable insights into the current landscape of visual novels. 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, especially titles with illustrations of bishoujo. 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 has already reinforced the importance of multilingual support from launch, ensuring that games reach fans from different regions. Furthermore, he highlighted that current projects need a prolonged lifecycle , often sustained by anime adaptations and other media. This media mix strategy not only broadens reach but also maintains player interest for years.
What to expect from the future of Visual Novels
Despite the challenges, both producers maintain an optimistic outlook. The key, according to them, lies in balancing creativity and accessibility, adapting to global expectations without losing the essence that won over fans.
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Source: denfaminico
