Experts speaking at the Vietnam GameVerse 2026 said the country’s gaming sector had become an increasingly important part of the digital economy, with estimated revenue reaching USD 1.66 billion in 2025.
The industry is forecast to grow by 9.77 per cent annually and reach USD 2.42 billion by 2029.
Over recent years, Vietnamese developers have moved beyond outsourcing work to create internationally recognised titles including Flappy Bird, Axie Infinity and Magic Tiles.
Le Quang Tu Do, head of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Vietnam’s ambition to transform Vietnam GameVerse into a major global gaming event had become reality.
“The Vietnamese gaming industry now has favourable timing, strong opportunities and growing support. This is a huge chance for rapid acceleration,” Tu Do said.
Le Quang Tu Do, director general of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Photo: Organising committee)
“We hope international partners will not only come to explore the market, but also cooperate, invest and develop alongside us.”
According to research by The Business Research Company, the global eSports market generated around USD 3 billion in revenue in 2025, with compound annual growth of 19 per cent.
In Southeast Asia alone, eSports revenue reached USD 77.4 million in 2025 and is projected to rise to USD 154.9 million by 2034, growing at an annual rate of 7.62 per cent.
Research from IMARC Group showed awareness of eSports in Southeast Asia stood at 94 per cent, higher than Europe’s 85 per cent.
In Vietnam, around 28.2 million people participate in electronic entertainment activities, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the population, according to Statista.
Domestic eSports revenue is forecast to reach USD 10 million by 2030.
Data from Sensor Tower ranked Vietnam sixth globally for growth in the number of game publishers, with expansion reaching 27 per cent.
The figures have placed Vietnam among the world’s fastest growing gaming markets.
The rapid growth helps explain why major international gaming companies are increasingly entering Vietnam through strategic partnerships.
Global firms including Garena, Tencent, Riot Games and Roblox Corporation have partnered with Vietnamese companies such as VNG Corporation, Gamota and VTC Game to publish games and tap into local market expertise.
Despite the sector’s momentum, experts said Vietnam’s gaming industry still needed clearer long term strategies to generate higher value.
Representatives from Google Play advised developers to better understand market shifts and diversify revenue models without damaging user experience.
Mike Fischer from the University of Southern California said success depended not only on ideas but also on storytelling, intellectual property development and copyright understanding.
“Rather than creating mass market products, studios should focus on building distinctive experiences capable of attracting loyal player communities,” Fischer said.
Speakers from Google Play and ByteDance also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in game development.
They said AI tools could reduce code review times by up to 90 per cent, create naturally interactive 3D characters and produce video trailers within minutes, allowing development teams to focus more heavily on creativity and content production.
Experts also called for deeper investment in product quality, stronger workforce training through education partnerships and further improvements to Vietnam’s technology ecosystem and policy framework.