Westernized cultures might find it hard to understand mobile gacha games; while they are prevalent across Asia and particularly Japan, these games have yet to take hold in the West despite having generated billions in revenue thanks to their immense popularity.
Westerners enjoy playing various video and iGaming titles, particularly online video slots and classic table games, which have proven very popular at Casumo online casino Canada, giving them much enjoyment out of these activities.
Undoubtedly, mobile gacha games provide hours of fun – but why haven’t they caught on in the West?
Cultural differences play a role.
Like many things in the world, cultural differences clearly play a role in stopping mobile gacha games from being popular in the West. They have been enjoyed excessively in locations such as Japan and other countries in Asia, but this could be because of their attitude to money.
Mobile gacha games like the massively popular Genshin impact, require players to make in-game purchases to be able to do certain things. This can include collecting virtual items and characters or spending money on them to make them better. In the West, there is a more conservative attitude to money, as they do not always want to spend money on things that do not directly benefit them in their lives, especially when times are tough, such as in a cost-of-living crisis. Moreover, it could be argued that gamers in the West prefer gaming experiences where everyone is on the same playing field rather than competing against another who has managed to enhance their chances.
Games are not appealing in the West.
This type of game has a playing role in certain cultures of whether a title can be successful. With gacha games typically based on luck, they have not been met with the same vigour that other games have been given. For instance, skill-based games have typically been preferred in the West, as players are able to influence the outcome when playing.
Additionally, the visuals of gacha games have struggled to attract players from Western cultures. They are typically designed with Asian players in mind, as they feature anime-inspired drawings and art. While these themes have become more prevalent in the West and have gained popularity with many, they still do not appeal as much as others do.
Could mobile gacha games become more popular in the West?
There is every chance that mobile gacha games could become more popular in Western societies, although there is no denying that there is an uphill task ahead of them.
While Asian themes continue to grow in popularity with gamers in the West, they do not appeal as widely as others do. Moreover, the differences that exist between the two cultures is still rather big, and it would be difficult to see these change completely. There is no reason to suggest that subtle changes cannot happen, but whether they will be big enough for mobile gacha games to thrive remains to be seen.
