Previously, Vietnam's government expressed concerns about excessive video game consumption leading to negative outcomes for children during the times when Flappy Bird became a sensation in the whole world. However, a significant shift in perception was witnessed during the inaugural Vietnam GameVerse Day held in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year.
Embracing Mobile Gaming
Bloomberg reported that government officials were actively promoting Vietnam as the hottest market for entertainment app development in the region. This change is reflective of Hanoi's new stance on mobile games, recognizing them as an export asset and a crucial component of the country's burgeoning technology sector.
Vietnam aims to move beyond its traditional role as a center for outsourced software and sneaker factories. Embracing the potential of the mobile gaming industry is seen as a strategic move, given the anticipated growth of the global mobile gaming market, which is projected to exceed $300 billion next year, with an annual growth rate expected to surpass 7% in the coming years.
Growing Industry
Vietnam's local gaming scene is experiencing a surge, spearheaded by a burgeoning group of game developers and publishing startups like Amanotes, renowned for its mobile music games, and OneSoft, the publisher of Falcon Squad. This remarkable growth is a testament to Vietnam's successful efforts in strengthening its education system.
The country's students consistently outperform their peers in the US and other OECD nations on PISA test scores, with a keen interest in engineering and technology. This interest is further nurtured by the rising popularity of coding camps for children and the inclusion of game development in university curricula.
Khoi Nguyen, founder of Good Story Time, a startup focused on video game development tools, praises Ho Chi Minh City's entrepreneurial spirit akin to Silicon Valley. After serving as a lead engineer for Oculus VR Inc. (acquired by Meta Platforms Inc. in 2014), he relocated from the Bay Area to Vietnam. Nguyen acknowledges the city's excellent engineering talent as a driving force behind its burgeoning tech ecosystem.
Becoming a Prominent Hub in SEA
Vietnam has become a prominent hub in Southeast Asia, housing numerous renowned local and global game studios. Pocket Gamer reported that Virtuos, capitalizing on this trend, aims to expand its workforce to 1500 employees in the company by 2024.
The company's general manager Samuel Stevenin cites Vietnam's thriving talent pool and its advantageous proximity to the culturally diverse region as significant factors driving this growth. He further highlights the region's mobile-first culture and the local talent pool's expertise and passion for creating world-class content and games.
Success stories like the blockchain hit Axie Infinity and the viral phenomenon Flappy Bird exemplify Vietnam's growing impact on the global gaming industry.
Although he acknowledges that Vietnamese talent may have less exposure to the AAA visual quality typically seen in PC and console games due to the mobile-focused culture, he praises their motivation and drive to enhance their skills. Their experience in mobile games also gives them a valuable understanding of optimization needs, contributing to their competitiveness in the industry.
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