Shuhei Yoshida: China Develops Games Much Faster Than Japan

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09 December 2025 13:54

Shuhei Yoshida, the former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, believes Japanese game developers are falling behind Chinese studios when it comes to development speed.

In an interview with 4Gamer that was translated by Automaton, Yoshida said companies like MiHoYo, the creator of Genshin Impact, move far faster than most teams in Japan. He noted that many Chinese developers work long hours and often shift staff quickly to meet production goals.

"The development speed in China is amazing [and] they’re also quick at changing personnel, and all of the game development work itself unfolds rapidly," Yoshida explained.

He added that MiHoYo’s work style would be hard to copy in Japan. "Back when I talked to representatives of MiHoYo, we discussed how it would be quite difficult for Japanese developers to make games in the same way MiHoYo does. Not to mention the legal problems that would come with it.

"I wonder if there are some aspects [of the development process] that Japanese game developers just can't replicate. One reason why games in China are so strong is because they are made in an environment which allows for hiring a large number of personnel who can work long hours.

"Of course, you never know what might happen in the near future, but looking at the current state of things, I think that's the biggest factor."

MiHoYo continues to find major success. Genshin Impact has earned more than five billion dollars on mobile, reaching that figure faster than any other game. The studio’s newer free to play action RPG, Zenless Zone Zero, saw fifty million downloads in its first few days.

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Tags: Sony

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