Crane games keep grip on cultural relevance despite digital disruption

Despite digitization rendering many businesses obsolete, crane game enterprises are a shining example of what can never be replaced by the online experience, with their physical prizes an anchor to their enduring appeal.The Japanese game arcade industry, which took a significant hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen nearly 8,000 stores disappear over the past decade, with a 30 percent reduction in the last five years alone, a recent survey from credit research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd showed.But claw machines have bucked the digital and console trend, with demand for prize games remai…READ FULL ARTICLE