Why This Topic Landed in Japan
Anime-style games have long been part of Japan's cultural self-image, so Chinese studios matching or exceeding visual expectations creates unease. At the same time, players are becoming more cautious about expensive releases, making the topic less about one game and more about whether traditional premium gaming still feels worth it.
Key Reaction Themes
- Impressive but not fun — Many users acknowledged the graphics and city detail, then questioned the underlying gameplay.
- Launch-price skepticism — Commenters increasingly described full-price purchases as a gamble.
- Politics and culture in buying decisions — Some users said perceived ideology or online cultural conflict now affects whether they buy games.
What Japanese Netizens Are Saying
- "Right now it feels like Genshin > Wuthering Waves > Ananta > NTE."
- "There is a lot to do, and the city detail is amazing, but something feels off. I uninstalled it for now."
- "It is more fun than Genshin, at least."
- "It is like AI: impressive, but boring."
- "Ananta is only impressive for its graphics and optimization."
- "I will never buy a game over 5,000 yen at full price. If it is around 10,000 yen, most games do not feel worth that much."
- "Chinese games are definitely impressive, but they are not fun."
- "Free-to-play plus paid add-ons are normal now. If I am buying at full price, I need a real reason."
- "Wilds was painful because the content felt very liberal. Now political ideology is involved too, so I am even more cautious about full-price games."
- "I get it. If a buy-to-own game is boring, it makes you really angry. Paying full price is too much of a gamble."
- "Recently, overseas users have also been attacking Japanese people who are against piracy."
- "Then why do people pay on release day?"