Leading Video Game Publishers in Japan: Q4 2024 Insights

In the ever-evolving landscape of video game publishing in Japan, Q4 2024 witnessed significant activity among leading brands. Utilizing Sensor Tower's comprehensive data offerings, including Web Insights, Pathmatics, and App Performance Insights, we delve into the performance of key players: LINE Manga, Pokémon GO, and Roblox.

LINE Manga (LINEマンガ)

LINE Manga's digital footprint is notable, featuring its website, manga.line.me, and the LINEマンガ app.

• Audience Trends: From Q3 to Q4 2024, manga.line.me experienced fluctuations, peaking in August with over 32M visits but stabilizing around 16M visits by December. The monthly deduplicated audience remained above 11M throughout the quarter.

• App Engagement: The app maintained a steady monthly active user base, with users hovering around 5.1M by December.

• Ad Spend & Channels: LINE Manga consistently invested in advertising, with a notable increase in December, spending over $1M across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, achieving over 237M monthly impressions.

Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO, accessible via pokemongolive.com and the Pokémon GO app, continues to captivate audiences.

• Audience Trends: The website saw a significant spike in November, with visits exceeding 3M, while the monthly deduplicated audience stayed consistently above 3.9M.

• App Engagement: The app's monthly active users showed a slight decline, ending the year with approximately 3.8M users.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Advertising efforts peaked in November with a monthly spend of over $340K, primarily on Instagram, garnering substantial monthly impressions.

Roblox (Mobile)

Roblox's presence is marked by its website, roblox.com, and the Roblox app.

• Audience Trends: The website experienced robust growth, with visits surpassing 65M in December. The monthly deduplicated audience steadily increased, reaching over 4.3M.

• App Engagement: The app maintained a stable monthly active user base, with users around 1.5M by year-end.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Roblox focused its advertising on YouTube, with a modest monthly spend yielding substantial impressions across the platform.

Conclusion

The Q4 2024 performance of LINE Manga, Pokémon GO, and Roblox underscores the dynamic nature of Japan's video game publishing sector. Sensor Tower's unparalleled data offerings provide critical insights, enabling a nuanced understanding of cross-platform user behavior and advertising strategies. As these brands continue to adapt and innovate, their audience engagement strategies will be pivotal in shaping the future of digital entertainment. Sensor Tower's comprehensive insights empower decision-makers to navigate this competitive landscape effectively.