Vietnam Game Day opened with a 15-minute ceremony, conveying meaningful messages and aspirations from industry leaders.

Against the backdrop of the National Flag, Director General of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, Le Quang Tu Do, emphasized that the Vietnamese game industry is experiencing a "once-in-a-century" opportunity, benefiting from a perfect confluence of timing, resources, and human collaboration. He urged all relevant entities to "work shoulder to shoulder" towards a common goal.

With over 100 booths, the event's 40,000 m2 space quickly filled with people just tens of minutes after opening. Over two days, the event attracted 35,000 visits, setting a new record for ticket sales at a domestic game event.

Many booths saw queues stretching tens of meters, with people waiting to experience games and receive gifts. Some waited nearly an hour for their turn to try a game, check in, or get a prize.

Young attendees at the event had the chance to try a variety of games, from PC to mobile, including FC Online, Lien Quan Mobile, Play Together, Lien Minh Huyen Thoai, Toc Chien, PUBG Mobile, Teamfight Tactics, Audition, and CrossFire.

The booths offered diverse experiential activities for visitors. An estimated 2 million gifts were prepared.

Beyond hunting for gifts, many young people also met their esports idols from various sports.

Star player Levi from the game Lien Minh Huyen Thoai shared with the audience.

Vietnam GameVerse 2026 also provided a platform for youth culture communities to express themselves. In the photo, cosplayers participated in a parade with props they meticulously prepared.

The Cosplay Contest finals, featuring 10 performances, showcased young people's creativity and their perspective on the world.

Starting in 2026, Vietnam will annually host the SEA Esports Nation Cup. In its inaugural year, the tournament gathered athletes from 11 countries, competing in multiple games like PUBG, Total Football, and Crossfire Legend.

The tournament concluded with Indonesia claiming the overall first place with 446 points. Vietnam secured second place with 390 points, while Thailand finished third with 190 points.

The audience transitioned from anticipation to excitement, captivated by the nations' performances on stage.

The Vietnam Game Awards ceremony on the evening of 8/5 presented 21 awards, honoring products, publishers, communities, and services that contributed to the industry's growth.

In the important category of Excellent Game Publisher, VNGGames and Funtap were both recognized. FC Mobile was named Game of the Year.

My My, Negav, and artists like ICD, Uprize, and 24K Right performed at the event, expanding activities from gaming to music and entertainment.

The GameHub program, which seeks potential game products, featured 10 presentations on stage.

This year's products showcased a wider variety of genres. Tram yeu diet ma: Loan the quy linh drew inspiration from mythology and folk beliefs. Long Quan tro lai: Thuy Tinh reimagined the Son Tinh - Thuy Tinh story in a modern Ha Noi setting. Sao Thang Tam chose the 1945 famine as material for a survival horror experience, while Xom nho tuoi tho recreated the rhythm of Vietnamese coastal village life between 1995 and 2010.

This year's program also expanded interaction activities with famous cosplayers and esports athletes, bringing fans closer to their idols.

Giuseppe Stasolla, Director of Ecosystems for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand at Google Play, stated he was "impressed" to witness the event's increasing scale each year, reflecting the rapid development of Vietnam's game industry.

Hoai Phuong

Photos: Duc Dong, Quynh Tran, Hieu Luong