Inafune's 'Japan is dead' comment was "discouraging," says Wada

Speaking in an interview with Edge, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has that Keiji Inafune's comments on the state of the Japanese market at Tokyo Game Show last September were "discouraging".

Back then, Inafune said that the Japanese games industry "is done". But Wada, who is also the head of CESA in Japan, said the comments from the Capcom developer "surprised" him.

He did also admit that the industry in the country is facing challenges, but insists Inafune's statement was out of line.

"My message by proxy for the Japanese developers who would have heard such a discouraging message is that if they are willing today, then they definitely have the capability to change and face tomorrow," he said.

"I’ll say that it’s a challenge. But it’s very strange to have such an extremely pessimistic view."

In the same interview, Wada hinted that the company may start to lean on Final Fantasy less, and start looking at western games development internally more.