A recent interview with Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has been the subject of controversy due to a mistranslation caused by machine translation. An article from Video Games Chronicle reported that Sakurai suggested Japanese games should be made with Japanese audiences in mind, but this version of his statement was not entirely accurate.
The correct translation of his response clarifies that Sakurai did not suggest limiting Japanese games to a Japanese audience. Instead, he emphasized that Japanese developers should focus on making games they personally enjoy, rather than feeling pressured to conform to Western trends.
The discussion stemmed from a question regarding the recent popularity of Chinese games and what Japan should do in response to industry shifts. Sakurai provided the following answer:
“This isn’t just my own opinion, but Japanese game developers should simply make games that they themselves would enjoy. In recent times, I believe there has indeed been a movement to ‘Americanize’ things more as various media are, of course, very well received in America.
However, those who enjoy Japanese games probably aren’t looking for that type of [Americanization] of games. Rather, I think they are looking for something unique and interesting from Japan.
Ideally, I think game developers should just make games that they want to make, and hopefully those who can accept that will enjoy them.”
The mistranslation had originally suggested that Sakurai was advocating for Japanese developers to strictly focus on their domestic audience. However, his actual statement expresses a broader perspective, encouraging creators to prioritize their own creative vision rather than attempting to cater specifically to Western markets.
His comments highlight an ongoing discussion in the gaming industry regarding how globalization influences game development. While Western markets have influenced design choices in many modern Japanese games, Sakurai’s stance suggests that authenticity and creative freedom should take precedence over adapting to external trends.
While the original machine-translated version led to misunderstandings, the accurate translation provides a clearer understanding of Sakurai’s actual stance, reaffirming his belief in creative freedom over forced adaptation in game development.
