Switch 2, Hello Kitty and Demon Slayer have underlined the success of Japan’s global pop culture influence. In this review, Pelham Smithers discusses whether 2025 will be the peak, or if there more to come. In light of the capital limitations faced by Japanese game developers evident at TGS2025, Pelham thinks further consolidation is likely and suggests three likely scenarios.
                                                                                This CY25 Q2 has been another tremendous quarter for the Japanese video game sector, driven by the release of the Switch 2. Analyst Pelham Smithers reviews the performance and offerings of the video game stocks PSA covers and delivers his updated rankings.
                                                                                An activist investor in Square Enix is causing the market take note of a business that is on the up, aided by improved game development efficiency and growing profitability of its non-video game businesses. While we are sceptical about the success of the activism, it does add a call option element to the stock which is arguably offering attractive valuations, explains Pelham Smithers.
                                                                                The US market has been good to Japanese game developers, so far, in 2025. Pelham Smithers updates us on what is performing well in the charts and what implications it has for the upcoming earnings season. Several companies have seen their shares rise April-to-date, so the FY25 outlook will be closely watched.
                                                                                In this quarterly strategy report, we look to evaluate where we are with regards the bull market conditions, and where those indicators might be headed, factoring in the downside risks, from Trump tariffs and the US economy, BoJ actions, Japanese earnings and valuations.
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                With Bitcoin above US$70,000, it is perhaps no surprise that interest in NFT / blockchain gaming is on the increase. Is this yet another flash in the pan,? Or is it a sustainable business model for video game developers? Pelham Smithers discusses.
                                                                                Square Enix’s relatively new CEO, Takashi Kiryu, is taking about ending the producer-led culture at the company, and moving game development onto a more structured, top-down framework. Pelham Smithers discusses whether it really matters.
                                                                                With global console game sales rising, analyst Pelham Smithers discusses whether we are in a new video game industry upswing. Moreover, sales of the PS5 are starting to generate clear water between those of the Xbox X/S in the Americas region – Microsoft’s backyard – so, if the gap becomes even more significant, there will certainly be implications for the X/S.
                                                                                Yosuke Matsuda, who as President took Square Enix from losses in FY12 to record profits in FY21, is to leave the firm. He will be replaced by the little-known Takashi Kiryu. Matsuda’s departure leaves Square Enix at something of a crossroads, and it will be as interesting to see which road Kiryu takes, as it will be to see how well he does.
    
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