Japanese Devs Think It May Be Impossible for Them to Make a Game Like NTE on PS5

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I’m totally hooked on this new PS5 game, NTE! It’s got this amazing anime style and is filled with nods to places like Akihabara, so it feels incredibly Japanese. It’s kind of mind-blowing to find out it’s actually developed by Hotta Studio, a Chinese team under the Perfect World banner. You’d never guess!

The success of this game has caused concern among Japanese game developers, who are wondering why Japan hasn’t been able to create a similar open-world experience.

I saw this really interesting post from Alwei, a consultant over at Inside Us Games, on X (formerly Twitter). He was talking about how huge and adaptable the open world for their new game is, and honestly, he called it ‘terrifying’ – in a good way, I think! It just sounds massive and they’re clearly building something ambitious.

Not surprisingly, Japanese gamers have enthusiastically embraced NTE, and their support is a major factor in the game’s worldwide success. It’s been the most downloaded game on PS5 for a week and shows no signs of losing that position.

Despite the game’s clear commercial success, Alwei thinks recreating it in Japan would be extremely difficult. He explains that matching the massive resources needed would be a challenge, and new labor laws regarding work hours mean Japanese developers wouldn’t have enough time to complete such a project.

Okay, so everyone knows Japanese game devs are famous for working crazy hours, right? But honestly, Chinese studios are just on another level now. They’re putting in the long hours too, but they also have access to a massive number of talented people – way more than anyone’s seen before. It’s making a real difference in what they’re able to pump out.

Game producer Ukyo recently pointed out in a blog post – as noted by Automaton – that this is only one of several issues.

As a fan, I’ve noticed Chinese game developers really go all-out when it comes to their characters. They don’t just make the game, they invest a ton of money into things like amazing animation, short films, and even music! It’s brilliant, honestly, because it makes you fall in love with these characters and really want to collect them all in games like NTE – it definitely makes me want to spend a little extra!

He also suggests cultural factors play a role. For example, China banned gaming consoles from 2000 to 2015, which led to a stronger preference for games that are continuously updated, such as massively multiplayer online games (MMOs).

I’ve been playing games like NTE, and what strikes me is how huge and dynamic the worlds are. But it’s cool to realize they’re meant to change and grow over time – they’re never really ‘done’. It’s a different approach than what I’m used to seeing from Japanese RPGs, like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, where you buy the game and that’s pretty much it – a complete experience right out of the box.

These findings echo comments made by former PlayStation Studios head Shuhei Yoshida last year. He noted that Chinese games are often successful because developers there can hire many workers who are willing to put in long hours.

It’s understandable that it would be challenging for Japan – or any nation, really – to replicate the success of companies like NTE. However, that doesn’t diminish their own unique capabilities and advantages.

This year has already brought us two highly praised games, Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem. Both were designed as single, standalone experiences and have become massive global successes, selling millions of copies.

Even if Japan can’t create a game exactly like NTE, that’s perfectly fine. They’re still releasing lots of fantastic games that we enjoy.

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2026-05-07 04:07