Console Gaming Growth Trends in East Asia

| Posted on May 27, 2025
console gaming

Key Takeaways

  • Japan and South Korea, especially Japan, are adopting consoles as the most popular gaming platforms; Mongolia is slowly catching up.
  • Mongolia is experiencing rising interest due to mobile phone-centered esports and social gaming activities.  
  • Access to these resources comes with challenges of high costs, low availability of languages, and poor internet accessibility.
  • There is a great need and potential to develop games that harness Mongolian culture, music, language, traditions, and local content.

Console gaming has been around since 1972 and has become a global trend. Not to mention, the global console gaming market is estimated at $24.8 billion in 2025, showcasing its popularity and growth across the world.

In East Asia, it has become increasingly popular among people of all ages, and at least every one in four houses has a gaming console. Since online games have been turned into esports events, platforms like bizbet have gained a major following.

In this article, I’ll talk about console gaming growth trends in East Asia. I’ll talk about all these things that made this a major source of entertainment.

Current Market Overview and Mongolia’s Adoption

Console gaming in East Asia is dominated by Sony and Nintendo, which continue to release new content that attracts long-term fans and first-time users. 

Microsoft, which is though less dominant in the region, has improved its presence through digital subscriptions and backward compatibility.

In relation to Korea or Japan, Mongolia has a less dominant presence of console gaming industries.. 

However, console sales are increasing thanks to better mobile integration, digital payment tools, and rising interest among working-age adults. 

Mongolia’s popular genres of gaming are Football simulation, racing, and multiplayer shooter games.  

The influence of betting companies also appears in discussions among gaming communities.

This is often switched between consoles and betting platforms during social events or game nights.

Hardware Access and Gaming Behaviour

In the East Asian region, there is an advantage of no delay marketing as new consoles and gaming hardware appear through official and unofficial vendors.

PlayStation and Nintendo Switch have strong footholds, particularly in urban areas, which also improves affordability for students and new players.

In Mongolia, internet infrastructure varies by region, and still, urban areas like Ulaanbaatar have seen rising interest in console gaming. 

Cafes with metagaming hybrid systems serve as internet cafes where users can play FIFA, browse esports forums, bet, and watch betting odds on the same screen. 

Some key user patterns in East Asia include:

  • Increased spending on digital-only game editions.
  • More console gamers are using mobile apps to access live streams and scores.
  • There is an increasing use of subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus. 
  • Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean cross-border imports are growing actively.

The broader entertainment shift in Mongolia supports this, and young adults combine online content, gaming, and betting into one flexible leisure experience.

Cultural Preferences and Language Support

An example of inexpensive console gaming in East Asia is the high amount of console gaming peripherals and video games for consoles that are easily and cheaply accessible. 

Japanese publishers lead in local language content, whereas Korean and Chinese developers follow similar paths. 

Localisation makes games more attractive to regional players who prefer their native language.

Mongolia presents challenges for localisation. Console UIs and in-game menus are rarely available in Mongolian. 

Most players switch to English or Russian, and despite this, demand for translated content is growing, which creates new opportunities for studios focused on emerging markets.

Community-driven translation projects have also helped users access foreign games, which lets Discord servers host guides, updates, and tips for Mongolian-speaking gamers.

Opportunities and Regional Trends

The use of consoles is becoming more popular in East Asia because of the availability of cloud gaming technology, which fills gaps where consoles aren’t as easily available.  

In Mongolia, there is an untapped market potential for products that showcase local culture and traditions, like music.  

Nevertheless, lack of proper funding, expensive prices, and lack of official support still limit access to consoles.  

Unlike Mongolia, which is just starting to invest in digital culture and technology, Japan and Korea do support developers.  

YouTube and Twitch are useful for gamers in Mongolia to stay in touch with the rest of the gaming world.

Looking Ahead in East Asian Console Markets

Console gaming in East Asia remains strong, and on the other hand, Japan and South Korea lead the way.

Emerging countries like Mongolia are closing the gap, their growth depends on access, localisation, and stable internet.

Analysts predict an increase of 10–15% in console shipments to Mongolia in the upcoming two years.   

Users are aided in overcoming cost barriers by bundled offers, online shops, and regional price reductions. 

Future success in Mongolia will rely on digital payment adoption and user-friendly services. 

Stakeholders should watch how local users combine consoles, apps, and media, instead of focusing only on game content.

The future of consoles in East Asia will be determined by cross-platform compatibility, subscription discounts, and localised online communities. 

Players in Mongolia are already part of that shift, blending gaming with newer trends and tools.

Ans: Console gaming growth is heavily influenced by strong brand presence, localisation, rising interest in all age groups, and digital subscriptions.

Ans: Mongolia faces issues like high console prices, limited localisation, and uneven internet access across regions.

Ans: Cloud gaming, cross-platform play, and growing mobile app integration are some of the trends that are shaping console gaming in East Asia.




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