“The Massive Value of the Global Gaming Industry”

At the Vietnam Game Forum 2025, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bao, CEO of VTC Corporation, presented on the topic “Games as a Digital Bridge to Connect and Preserve Vietnamese Culture.” In his speech, Mr. Bao emphasized the special role of games in preserving and promoting national cultural heritage, if properly directed.

According to him, games can create an immersive experience by combining visuals, audio, and interactivity – something that industries like film or traditional music find challenging to achieve to the same extent. Players actively explore cultural elements woven into each context, making the experience diverse and personalized.

Mr. Bao cited that the global value of the gaming industry is approximately $188 billion, far surpassing the combined revenue of music and cinema, estimated at around $60 billion. “Games are not just an entertainment industry, but also the most powerful vehicle for cultural transmission today,” he asserted.

In the field of esports, games are also considered a creative tool to introduce cultural values. Mr. Bao mentioned Audition, a famous music game that has existed for over 20 years, as an example of how millions of young people have been introduced to music and had their dreams of dancing fulfilled in a digital environment.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bao also pointed out how countries like South Korea and China have utilized games as part of their cultural communication strategy. In South Korea, entertainment products such as games, films, and music have collectively contributed to the global reach of Hallyu culture. Meanwhile, in China, the game Black Myth: Wukong has brought Chinese cultural elements closer to the global gaming community.

Similarly, Assassin’s Creed, a famous Western product, has introduced millions of people to cultural icons such as the Pyramids and even inspired them to visit these landmarks in person. “Cultural values are persistently disseminated through continuous updates throughout a game’s lifecycle,” Mr. Bao observed.

In Vietnam, Mr. Bao assessed that the potential for developing games linked to culture is immense. The country currently has approximately 50 million gamers, ranking among the top 5 markets with the highest revenue in Southeast Asia. Additionally, Vietnam’s vast treasury of cultural and historical heritage spanning thousands of years is likened to a gigantic “Tang Kinh Cac,” which remains underutilized in this domain.

To materialize this goal, VTC’s leadership proposed formulating a National Strategy for Vietnamese Cultural Games and establishing funds to support start-ups developing games inspired by history, legends, and traditional values. Developing national game IPs, similar to how Wukong represents China, is also considered a crucial step.

Concluding his speech, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bao advocated for recognizing games as a “living heritage” capable of connecting young generations with their national traditions. “It is imperative to assign the task of transforming Vietnamese games into a digital bridge between the past and the future,” he emphasized.