The Vietnam Game Forum 2026, held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), kicked off the two-day Vietnam GameVerse 2026 event series on 8-9/5. It brought together numerous publishers, game development studios, technology experts, and gaming enthusiasts from Vietnam and abroad.

Under the theme "Do Local - Go Global", this year's forum highlighted the Vietnamese game industry's ambition to transition from a consumer market to a regional production and publishing hub. A key discussion point was how the industry can harness internal strengths and external resources to expand its global footprint. Experts noted that a young development workforce and support from the international ecosystem position Vietnamese games for significant global expansion.

Adam Seldow highlighted useful tools for game developers on Roblox. *Photo: Duc Dong*

Adam Seldow, Roblox's Director of Education Policy, specifically noted Vietnam's advantage in its young, tech-savvy creative workforce, eager to embrace new trends. He emphasized that video games transcend mere entertainment, functioning as creative spaces, community connectors, and drivers of digital content ecosystems. Seldow added that developers attuned to young players have a greater chance of creating global products from the domestic market. Open platforms such as Roblox empower local creators to develop distinct products and access a vast global user base without traditional publishing.

Addressing human resource training, Mike Fischer, Assistant Professor of Interactive Media and Games at the University of Southern California, highlighted that video games are now an intersection of technology, art, and media, beyond just entertainment. To foster international competitiveness, he recommended Vietnam invest more in high-quality human resources, focusing on skills like player experience design, creative thinking, storytelling, and long-term product development.

"A strong studio needs not only skilled engineers but also individuals who understand player behavior and can craft experiences that resonate with the global market," he said.

Mike Fischer compared game development to creating unique snack flavors. *Photo: Duc Dong*

Giuseppe Stasolla, Head of Ecosystem, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for Google Play, identified the most significant opportunity for Vietnamese games in a "global-first" product development approach, particularly for mobile games. He noted that many studios prioritize domestic release before international expansion. However, in the current digital landscape, developers should integrate a "go global" strategy from the initial stage, covering user experience, payments, community management, and growth data analysis.

Stasolla recognized Vietnam as a fast-growing regional market, characterized by a young developer base and high adaptability. The challenge lies in converting these advantages into sustained operational capability and long-term international competitiveness.

Giuseppe Stasolla analyzed the potential of Vietnam's game industry. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

In summary, speakers agreed that Vietnamese games possess considerable potential, but require a robust ecosystem to convert this into tangible value. Internal strengths include creative teams, product development capabilities, and cultural identity. External support comes from technology platforms, distribution networks, and international investment.

Vietnam GameVerse is an annual event collaboratively organized by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, VnExpress newspaper, FPT Online Services Joint Stock Company (FPT Online), and the Vietnam Game Alliance. This year's event, held on 8-9/5, featured activities including the Vietnam Game Forum, Vietnam Game Awards, the Cosplay Contest 2026 finals, and a community game experience zone.

Thy An