Nguyen Thanh Hoa, Head of the Electronic Information Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, presented this information at a conference on legal regulations for the management, provision, and use of online gaming services, held on November 6.

According to Mr. Hoa, revenue for Vietnam's gaming industry in 2022 was approximately $400 million - a slight increase from $300 million a decade ago, indicating that the industry has struggled to grow significantly.

This stagnation reflects declines in both the number of game development companies and the quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese products in the international market, as well as diminished foreign investment interest.

Currently, hundreds of foreign games without licensing in Vietnam are available on platforms like Google Play and Apple Store, while more than 100,000 unlicensed games are accessible through platforms like Steam.

This situation highlights the challenge for regulatory agencies to prevent illegal cross-border services from reaching Vietnamese users, which hinders the industry's global expansion.

Furthermore, online gaming in Vietnam continues to face negative social perceptions, with the public often associating games with violent or unhealthy content that negatively impacts youth.

Vietnamese gaming companies also struggle to compete with global technology and gaming giants, leading many local companies to sell their operations to foreign firms or shut down entirely.

According to domestic publishers, actual industry revenue could be as high as $3.5 to $4.5 billion, vastly exceeding official estimates. Much of this revenue is siphoned off by cross-border publishing companies.

Mr. Hoa highlighted that the Vietnamese gaming industry faces considerable challenges, including misconceptions about electronic sports (eSports) and online gaming—two distinct concepts often confused or misunderstood by the public.

Policymakers and researchers still undervalue the potential of this young cultural industry. Meanwhile, local regulations require strict adherence to content standards, creating barriers for domestic companies looking to enter the market.

Unlicensed games continue to circulate widely in Vietnam, while eSports activities often emerge spontaneously with many games unreviewed by authorities. The current legal framework lacks clear guidance on categorizing online games as eSports, leading to inconsistent quality and unfair competition between domestic publishers and foreign game importers.

Current regulations primarily focus on licensing and game management rather than providing specific policies to support industry growth.

To address these challenges, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications has established a management and development plan for 2024-2025, extending to 2030. This plan includes several key initiatives:

1. Policy and Regulatory Development: Advise on creating policies to foster healthy and strategic growth in the gaming industry, contributing to the city's digital economy.

2. Prevention of Unlicensed Content: Combat the distribution of unlicensed and illegal content in games and establish policies to support research and workforce training to enhance industry quality.

3. Promotion of Healthy Gaming and eSports: Support the release of safe, entertaining games, especially in connection with eSports, including school-based initiatives to encourage healthy gaming among students.

4. Public Awareness Campaigns: Shift societal perceptions about gaming, strengthen local businesses, and promote the industry’s growth in alignment with the city's cultural and creative industries.

5. Advanced Technology Integration: Choose qualified partners to develop applications for monitoring and handling unlicensed games advertised or distributed within the city. Encourage the use of AI and blockchain technology to create transparent, decentralized gaming platforms with enhanced security and ownership rights, offering a flexible and interactive experience for players.

6. Blockchain Technology Club: Support the establishment of a blockchain technology club under the city’s Electronic Information Association to bring together leading technology firms and explore new solutions for the city’s gaming sector.

Le My