More than half of the player base for Onimusha: Way of the Sword on Steam originates from China, according to data cited by video game industry analyst Daniel Camilo.
The findings, compiled from multiple analytics sources, highlight the significant presence of Chinese PC gamers.
The trend aligns with broader market data from industry analyst Matthew Ball, whose research indicates that China accounts for 20% of global player spending and drives 38% of overall industry growth. Ball’s reports also show that Chinese publishers have driven approximately half of all global player spending growth since 2019, while Chinese-language users continue to represent one of the fastest-growing demographics on Steam.
The dominance of PC gaming in China is rooted in the country’s ban on video game consoles from 2000 to 2015. During this period, PC hardware became the primary gaming platform, fostering a culture of internet cafes and PC-first development. This ecosystem enabled Valve’s Steam platform to expand heavily into the region, providing millions of Chinese players access to a massive catalog of global releases.
Commenting on the data, Camilo stated that the Chinese market is often under-reported in journalism covering the trajectory and economic health of the video game industry.
“China needs to be included in any conversation, article or content you see discussing the videogame industry ‘crash’, the growth of the industry or anything related,” Camilo wrote. “If it doesn’t, then you know you’re consuming non-comprehensive content that lacks too much critical understanding, data and perspective on what is actually happening with the industry today.”
He added that while the scale and influence of China’s market is recognized among industry observers, it has yet to fully integrate into mainstream discourse.
