May 29, 2025: MENA Gaming Matters- Insights from the UAE
The UAE is rapidly establishing itself as a leading force in MENA region. Backed by targeted investments and a growing gamer population, UAE is actively shaping its future as the global gaming hub. Read our writeup on Niko's latest events in UAE, including our recent accolade in the MENA Games Industry Award (the white paper that got us the award is now available in Arabic).
VNG appoints Kelly Wong as 2025-2030 CEO to lead strategic transformation
VNG Corporation appointed Kelly Yin Hon Wong as CEO for a five-year term, filling the position that had been vacant since November 2024. Wong previously served as VNG's Deputy CEO and CEO of VNGGames, where he led significant growth in revenue and user engagement. VNG remains committed to balancing sustainable growth in its core gaming business with cautious innovation in digital services, AI, and fintech.
Why this matters: Wong's appointment signifies VNG's strategic emphasis on revitalizing its gaming division, which continues to be a primary revenue source. As Vietnam's gaming industry evolves amidst increasing competition and technological advancements, VNG's focus on integrating AI and expanding digital services under Wong's guidance could enhance its competitiveness and contribute to the sector's growth.
Link to original article (Vietnamese) →
Gaming Growth Unlocked: Lessons from Distribution, Payments, and Regulations in Asia
Did you know that out-of-app platforms monetization is on the rise on mobile gaming scene? In Southeast Asia alone, the scheme accounted for 38% of mobile gaming revenue in 2024, up from 21% in just two years. Out-of-app platforms such as direct-to-consumer web stores now account for 26% of mobile gaming revenue in East Asia and Southeast Asia combined. Read more about this in our free white paper, co-published with Coda.
NetEase holds 520 annual games conference to showcase over 40 titles
NetEase Games held its annual 520 Video Game Showcase for 2025 on May 20, 2025. This was the 11th anniversary of the annual 520 Game Showcase which is named after May 20 became known as China's unofficial Valentine’s Day. Themed "Love Always Online", the 2025 showcase highlighted more than 40 games, IPs, and platform products including 9 new titles and over 30 existing games.
Why this matters: This year’s event looked to combat growing assumptions that NetEase is pulling back from global markets and global IP. Five of the new games were based on global IP, with 3 of them being self-developed. These titles include Destiny: Rising in partnership with Bungie, Marvel Mystic Mayhem in partnership with Marvel, unVEIL the World in partnership with Shueisha. NetEase is also publishing Supervive from Theorycraft and Wildgate from Dreamhaven in China.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
Hero Esports Asian Champions League Attracts 40,000 Spectators
The inaugural Hero Esports Asian Champions League (ACL) drew nearly 40,000 spectators across three major venues in Shanghai this month. The event had a RMB 15 million ($2.07 million) prize pool and direct qualification slots to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The ACL featured 9 esports titles, including League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2. It also featured DreamHack's first-ever China edition, bringing the global gaming lifestyle festival to local audiences for the first time.
Why this matters: The tournament's scale and international integration reflects Shanghai's continued dominance in China's esports landscape. According to the 2024 China Esports Industry Report, the city hosted 17.8% of all offline tournaments nationally and was home to 50 of China's 195 professional esports teams by the end of 2024. Shanghai's ecosystem strength is supported by deep investment in venue infrastructure, club development, and government-backed initiatives to brand the city as a global gaming destination.
Korean Game Company Files First Lawsuit Against Apple in US Court
A Korean game company filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to immediately prohibit Apple from charging illegal in-app payment fees and to provide compensation for the damages. The company, mentioned by its initial “P”, stated that Apple’s 30% in-app payment commission along with the 27% commission for third-party alternative payment methods were predatory and unfair according to a previous U.S. Federal Court ruling. The company plans to soon file a lawsuit with Google in the same case.
Why this matters: This is the first time that a Korean game company that uses the Google and Apple application markets has filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court. Although Korea enacted the In-App Payment Compulsory Prohibition Act (Amended Telecommunications Business Act) in 2021, the law’s effectiveness is reportedly low, causing the game company to directly file a lawsuit to the U.S. Federal Court.
Link to original article (Korean) →
Tencent partners with Invest Qatar to scale up accelerate games industry development
Level Infinite, Tencent's global publishing brand, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Invest Qatar during the Qatar Economic Forum, marking a strategic partnership to develop and scale the games industry in Qatar. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasizes economic diversification, innovation, and human capital development. Tencent will leverage its global expertise in gaming technology, publishing, and live service operations to support the growth of Qatar's local gaming ecosystem.
Why this matters: The partnership includes a strong focus on talent development, with both parties set to collaborate on programs aimed at building local capacity in game development, product innovation, and gaming infrastructure. This move reflects Tencent's broader strategy of expanding its global presence through regional partnerships and aligning with national digital transformation agendas in emerging markets. The partnership also aligns with a growing trend in the Gulf region, where countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have made substantial investments in esports and game development.
Huawei introduces HarmonyOS for PCs in bid to compete with Windows & Mac
On May 19, Huawei officially unveiled its first HarmonyOS PC during a major launch event in Chengdu. This announcement aligns with the recent launch of HarmonyOS Next for smartphones which breaks away from Android and requires developers to create native apps and games for the platforms. Huawei is looking to establish a self-sufficient Chinese operating system ecosystem across mobile and desktop platforms that competes with Windows, Android and iOS / Mac.
Why this matters: This launch arrives at a moment when Huawei is regaining its hardware momentum. The company is now the third-largest PC vendor in China, with some estimates placing it as high as second due to strong channel relationships. Huawei already has a leading position in China’s smartphone market. What this means is that HarmonyOS is set to play a major role in China going forward and is an OS video game developers need to take seriously, especially mobile game developers, if they want to reach a broad audience in the country.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
GeoGuessr withdraws from Esports World Cup following backlash
On May 12, trivia game GeoGuessr officially withdrew from Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 following backlash from its community. Creators of community-developed maps executed a blackout to protest GeoGuessr's decision to participate in the EWC. A community representative stated that the protest is due to allegations of sportswashing by Saudi Arabia. This decision to withdraw from the EWC was made just one week after it was announced to be participating in the event with a $20,000 prize pool.
Why this matters: Sportswashing allegations are not new for Saudi Arabia, with commentators accusing the government of using sports and esports to improve its image amid human rights concerns. Despite this, the Esports World Cup is set to grow from the previous year, with a $70 million prize pool across 25 events and 24 esports titles. Many of the top game publishers and esports orgs are participating in the event, but the GeoGuessr reversal shows that sportswashing still remains a notable concern for esports communities.
Events
ChinaJoy
Shanghai, China
August 1-4, 2025
Attendee: Xiaofeng Zeng