The pressing question of how to protect the younger generation from harmful foreign game content was raised by Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the Authority of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information (ABTEI), during the “2025 Year-End Review and 2026 Planning Conference” held on December 29.

According to Huyen, Vietnamese-made games only account for a small slice of the national market. She emphasized the urgent need to boost the share of domestically developed games to reduce dependence on foreign supply.

She also called on local game developers to embed historical and cultural values into their games to preserve and promote Vietnamese identity.

While expanding game production is vital, controlling the negative impacts of gaming content is equally important - especially content originating from abroad and distributed across borders into Vietnam.

Over 1,000 illegal games removed in 2025

In 2025, the ABTEI blocked or removed 1,081 unauthorized games - a 40% increase compared to 2024.

Additionally, 432 domains and websites involved in gambling and promotional activities for illegal games were taken down.

Last year, authorities also imposed fines on seven cases of violations, totaling VND 557 million (approximately USD 22,000).

Two licenses for providing G1 online gaming services were revoked, along with 38 licenses for releasing G1 games.

“These figures are significantly higher than in previous years,” Huyen noted.

She also revealed that the ABTEI had developed and implemented a database software system for managing licensed online games.

This system will allow all licensed games - whether domestic or international apps - to carry a distinctive logo. When users click on this logo, they will be redirected to an official page containing data about that particular game.

The new feature aims to enhance transparency and make it easier for regulatory bodies to monitor licensed games.

Vision to build a strong game industry

At the local level, Nguyen Ngoc Hoi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, expressed interest in co-hosting an international game festival in the city with the ABTEI.

This aligns with the Prime Minister’s decision on the “Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Cultural Industries through 2030, with Vision to 2045,” which sets a target for the domestic online game industry to reach VND 25 trillion (approximately USD 1 billion) in revenue by 2030.

Hoi stressed the need for a strategic approach and platforms that can bring stakeholders together to guide the industry’s development and transform gaming into a national strength.

Tran Chung