How Japanese Arcades are Surviving the Pandemic
Majin Obama gives us the update on how the community is supporting these gaming havens
By Eli Horowitz • June 1, 2020
As previously reported here on toptier, the Fighting Game Community has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many arcades, which have low margins to begin with, have been shuttered for months, putting them on the brink of survival. But the FGC has not simply stood by idly and watched. Instead, we’ve come together to support one another and the institutions that we love.
Just a few days ago, Majin Obama provided an update on the situation in Japan. Thanks to an outpouring of support both from Japan and abroad, multiple arcades have not only met but exceeded their crowdfunding goals. With the country set to reopen soon and with many US arcades also looking at a return to business, it looks as though the FGC has weathered the first part of the storm. Of course, no one knows what the next weeks and months may bring. But our community has shown that it has the love and the selflessness that are needed to make it through hard times.
Watch Majin Obama’s full video below, then follow him on Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube for more vital content.