PlayStation Studios Head Hermen Hulst Claims Sony Is Still “Very Invested In Japanese Development” Amidst Ongoing Censorship Of Japanese Titles, Shuttering Of Japan Studio
Spencer Baculi
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Despite numerous and seemingly constant reports of Sony’s predilection towards censoring Japanese titles released on their platforms, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst has attempted to reassure players that the company is still “very invested in Japanese development.”
Source: Gravity Rush 2 (2017), Japan Studio
Asked during a recent interview with Game Informer’s Kimberly Wallace for his thoughts on the “rumors” that Sony had all but completely abandoned its Japanese audiences following its dissolution of Japan Studio (Ape Escape, Gravity Rush), Hulst refuted, “I will say that we are in some ways very much a Japanese company still.”
“That’s our heritage,” he added. “That’s still part of who we are. We love our Japanese games.”
Source: Jeanne D’Arc (2007), Japan Studio
When pressed by Wallace for information on what Japan Studio’s ‘restructuring’ meant for Sony’s future in Japan, Hulst boasted of the numerous other studios the company had in the country, presenting them as evidence that Sony was still “very invested in Japanese development.”
“We’re building out Team Asobi under Nicolas Doucet, so we’re actually investing in that team,” said Hulst. “People forget sometimes that we have Polyphony Digital, which is a team in two locations. We are investing in our external development group out of Tokyo as well, and that’s a team that has obviously worked with the likes of From Software and Kojima Productions.”
Source: Demon’s Souls (2009), From Software/Japan Studio
He continued, “So we are very invested in Japanese development and Japanese development is something that we love.”
“I think it’s such a core part of the PlayStation identity that I can’t ever see us shy away from Japanese or even Asian development,” Hulst concluded.
Source: Bleach: Soul Resurrección (2011), Japan Studio
Related Report: Sony and PlayStation Losing Footing In Japan As Nintendo Sweeps Sales Charts
Despite Hulst’s denial of the “rumors,” fans’ fears that Sony has turned away from Japan have been spurred by a myriad of concrete, widely reported events, including the company’s regular censorship of “blood and gore” and risque visuals in anime games (despite such content being included and even promoted in their Western developed games such as The Last Of Us II) and their aforementioned closure of Japan Studio.
Further, as a result of Sony’s perceived indifference to its Japanese audience, Sony has all but been eliminated from the country’s top sales chart, with only one title appearing in the Top 30 for the two most recent reporting periods.
Source: The Last of Us II (2020), Sony Interactive Entertainment
Alongside claims that Sony “no longer wants to produce smaller games that are only successful in Japan” in favor of games with global appeal, these reports make Hulst’s claims seem nothing more than corporate lip-service than anything else.
After all, he did say that the company is only still a Japanese company in “some ways” – which could mean anything from having a focus on niche Japanese titles (which, as evidenced, is doubtful) to simply having one office within the country.
Source: Tokyo Jungle (2012), Japan Studio
What do you make of Hulst’s attempt to assuage fans’ fears? Lets us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!
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