Pokkén Downturn?

While there is still some attention on Pokkén Tournament, I want to point out a recent observation. It has come to my attention that some arcades in particular are taking out the arcade Pokkén machines since they are not doing well as expected. However, Pokkén seems to be doing just fine for the Wii U and is expected to get a boost next month once the DX version comes out for the Switch. So on one hand the arcade version could be experiencing a downturn, but on the other hand the console version may be its saving grace.

It has been stated that the downturn in the arcade version is due to long play times, which translate into not enough revenue. I've stated this in my "thoughts" post and must say it again: I have never seen an actual machine and will probably never actually interact with one, but if the game is anything like the console version, then I can see why this could be understandable. It's also been stated that a game of arcade Pokkén takes the better part of an hour to play; I'm not sure I would spend that much time at an arcade game, let alone wait the same amount of time to play. Even if the game were priced reasonably or even appropriately/proportionally to its length, I still wouldn't play it for the reason above.

This kind of gaming lends itself well to console games rather than arcade games, so it then becomes fortunate that Pokkén Tournament is available for consoles. In this way, I can spend quality time with the game while sidestepping the possibility of disrupting others (playing the game). It seems the developers agree, which is probably why in the upcoming DX version, just about every Pokémon from the arcade version will be present along with new ones. This might signal the demise of the arcade version unless somehow it can provide an experience unique from the console version, and therein lies the possible downturn.

A game like Pokkén would surely have many fans, especially since it features the highly popular Pokémon franchise. However, this means nothing if the game cannot be pleasantly enjoyed by everyone, for which the arcade version seems to indicate, especially in regard to the arcades themselves. It seems the console version could have a brighter future by the fact that it will receive something that the arcade version does not have. It's still a downturn for the arcade version, but it may bode well for those who like to play the game on their personal consoles.