Until the mid 1990s, Japanese game developers were leading the way. With console makers Nintendo and Sega and later Sony acting as gatekeepers, they were often more successful than their western counterparts, with franchises like Mario, Sonic and Zelda standing out.
But the late 90s saw a leap in Western game development with first-person shooters like Doom and Quake and sports games and ultimately the rise of successful Western IPs like Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty. But some are now suggesting that the tide is turning back.
