Recap of the Week

Vietnam’s mobile game revenue chart saw renewed momentum from the MMORPG segment. Nghịch Thủy Hàn climbed 29 positions to #18 and recorded a 155.32% increase in revenue, while LORDNINE: Cửu Vương Tranh Bá rose 34 positions to #35.
The launch of Nghịch Thủy Hàn’s Version 1.3.1 update, Phù Sinh Vạn Tượng, on July 31 was likely a key driver behind its growth, introducing a new season, map, PvE content, Battle Pass, cosmetic items, and top-up activities.
Two martial arts MMORPGs, Project E: Tân Nguyên Kiếm Hiệp and Võ Lâm Tình Kiếm 3D, opened new testing phases, highlighting the continued appeal of traditional wuxia-inspired games in Vietnam.
Team Flash announced its Esports World Cup 2026 lineup across three disciplines: AOV × Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, and Chess, with Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm representing the organization in the chess competition.
Gamota and LDPlayer signed a Memorandum of Understanding at ChinaJoy 2026, aiming to optimize mobile game experiences on PC and expand product distribution to international audiences.
Proposed amendments to Vietnam’s game regulations introduced limited testing mechanisms, tax incentives for eligible Vietnamese games, and a separate licensing process for imported titles used exclusively in esports tournaments. These measures remain at the draft stage.

Market & Game Performance

Dynamic ranking: MMORPGs Lead This Week’s Growth, Driven by Nghịch Thủy Hàn

Appmagic data this week shows that Vietnam’s Top 50 mobile game revenue chart recorded notable momentum from the MMORPG segment. Nghịch Thủy Hàn met the criteria for both a Rank Spike and a Revenue Spike, while LORDNINE: Cửu Vương Tranh Bá also posted a significant ranking increase.

Rank Spike: Titles Recording Significant Ranking Gains

Two titles climbed at least 10 positions compared with the previous week:

Nghịch Thủy Hàn rose 29 positions to #18, generating estimated revenue of approximately USD 29,106.
LORDNINE: Cửu Vương Tranh Bá climbed 34 positions to #35, with estimated revenue of approximately USD 15,855. [1]

Revenue Spike: Nghịch Thủy Hàn Revenue Rises by More Than 155%

Nghịch Thủy Hàn recorded a 155.32% week-over-week revenue increase, reaching approximately USD 29,106. This was the strongest revenue growth among the tracked titles and made the game the most notable performer in this week’s ranking. [1]

The increase coincided with VNGGames launching Version 1.3.1, Phù Sinh Vạn Tượng, on July 31. The update introduced a new season, reset the ranking and Battle Pass systems, and added the Vĩnh Dạ Tinh Đô open-world map, the six-player Thiên Hoang Dị Văn dungeon, new exploration content, equipment, and rewards. The concentration of new content within the observation week may have encouraged returning players to re-enter the game and spend more time engaging with its systems. [2]

From a monetization perspective, the update introduced a refreshed Battle Pass with new cosmetic items and rewards, the Gió Lành Ca Vang activity involving items purchasable with the in-game currency Văn Ngọc, cumulative top-up events, and a range of new outfits, pets, hairstyles, and other purchasable items. The combination of seasonal content and direct monetization touchpoints offers a reasonable explanation for the revenue increase, although the available data does not indicate the individual contribution of each activity. [2]

Nghịch Thủy Hàn also held an in-game fan meeting with Vietnamese singer buitruonglinh on July 31, following a ticket-collection campaign running from July 21 to July 30. Players were encouraged to log in, complete missions, invite new or returning users, and collect ticket fragments. By combining celebrity participation, in-game missions, and limited rewards, the campaign may have amplified community engagement immediately before the new update went live. [3]

Nghịch Thủy Hàn’s performance illustrates how major updates can generate stronger results when gameplay content, monetization systems, and community activities are launched together. Rather than relying on a single banner or purchasable item, the game created multiple reasons for users to return, remain active, and potentially spend.

New Release: Đạo Hữu Xin Dừng Bước Enters the Top 50

Đạo Hữu Xin Dừng Bước, an Idle RPG, entered the Top 50 for the first time at #34, generating estimated revenue of approximately USD 16,453. The title was released on June 27, 2026, meeting the criteria of a game launched within the past three months that was absent from the previous week’s ranking. [1]

The rapid entry of a new Idle RPG into the Top 50 suggests that the segment continues to support early-stage monetization through accessible character progression loops and new-player incentive systems. However, its ability to maintain this position in the coming weeks will provide a more meaningful indication of player retention and LiveOps effectiveness.

Back-to-Top: Zenless Zone Zero Leads Returning Titles

Four titles returned to the Top 50 after being absent from the previous week’s chart:

Zenless Zone Zero – Gamota returned at #12, with estimated revenue of approximately USD 42,665.
Nhất Kiếm Phục Ma returned at #46, generating approximately USD 13,473.
Call of Dragons – Funtap returned at #48, with approximately USD 12,215.
Rummy – Fun & Friends Casino Card Games returned at #50, generating approximately USD 11,867. [1]

Zenless Zone Zero – Gamota not only achieved the highest ranking among the returning titles but also generated more revenue than any of this week’s Rank Spike or New Release entries. This demonstrates how large-scale LiveOps titles can quickly return to leading positions when new content or events successfully reactivate their player bases.

New Releases & Major Updates: Two Martial Arts MMORPGs Open New Testing Phases

Project E: Tân Nguyên Kiếm Hiệp Opens Alpha Test 2 with Improved Performance on Lower-End Devices

Project E: Tân Nguyên Kiếm Hiệp officially opened its second Alpha Test at 10:00 a.m. on July 30, 2026. Compared with the first test conducted in April, the new version introduced additional content and several adjustments to performance, character-following mechanics, and the game’s automatic task system. [4]

Initial feedback indicated that the game performed more smoothly on lower-end devices and that several issues from the previous version had been addressed. However, players continued to report black screens, crashes, and excessive skill effects that reduced visual clarity when many characters appeared simultaneously. The test was available on Android and PC but did not yet support iOS. [4]

Prioritizing optimization for mainstream and lower-end devices is consistent with the wide range of hardware used by Vietnamese mobile players and could help the game expand its addressable audience after launch. However, lower community engagement compared with the first Alpha Test suggests that the operating team may need to strengthen its communication, feedback collection, and pre-launch engagement strategy. [4]

Võ Lâm Tình Kiếm 3D Opens AlphaTest 01 Across Multiple Platforms

Võ Lâm Tình Kiếm 3D opened AlphaTest 01 at 7:00 p.m. on August 1, 2026, with the testing period scheduled to continue until August 10. The game aims to recreate the traditional Võ Lâm MMORPG experience in a 3D environment while retaining 10 character classes, the Five Elements system, Green Equipment, boss hunting, Tống Kim battlefields, and guild-based PvP activities. [5][6]

During the test, players received access to level 125 characters, fully unlocked skills, free stat resets, Green Equipment with complete attributes, and the ability to change classes. The game supported a PC client, Android APK, Android emulators, and iOS through TestFlight, enabling the development team to assess performance and server capacity across different device environments. [5][6]

The product is combining nostalgia with a visual upgrade: established gameplay systems reduce the learning barrier for long-term MMORPG players, while 3D graphics and cross-platform access modernize the overall experience. This positioning has a clear foundation in the Vietnamese market, but long-term competitiveness will depend on product differentiation, operational quality, and the LiveOps roadmap following the testing period.

Esports & Community

Esports Highlights & Tournament Updates: Team Flash Competes in Three Disciplines at the Esports World Cup 2026

On July 30, Team Flash announced its Esports World Cup 2026 lineup across three disciplines: AOV × Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, and Chess. This represents one of the most notable multi-title lineups fielded by a Vietnamese esports organization at this year’s event. [7][8]

In AOV × Honor of Kings, Team Flash qualified after winning the 2026 Spring season of the Arena of Glory. Its PUBG Mobile roster entered the competition after achieving a Top 10 finish at PMGO 2026 Season 1 and leading Southeast Asia in the regional points system. Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm secured his place in the chess tournament after finishing third in the Road to EWC qualifier at DreamHack Atlanta. [7][8]

Competing across a mobile MOBA, a battle royale title, and chess allows Team Flash to reach multiple audience groups rather than relying on a single esports ecosystem. This diversified model may also increase the organization’s sponsorship value by providing brand exposure across both competitive gaming and traditional mind sports.

Lê Quang Liêm’s participation is particularly notable as an example of traditional mind sports becoming increasingly integrated into professional esports ecosystems. This development may help Vietnamese organizations build broader brand identities and engage partners that have not historically focused on gaming.

Industry & Business Developments

Studios, Publishers & Partnerships: Gamota Signs Cooperation Agreement with LDPlayer at ChinaJoy 2026

During ChinaJoy 2026 in Shanghai, Gamota and LDPlayer officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement focuses on two key areas: optimizing Gamota’s mobile game portfolio for PC emulation and using LDPlayer’s international user ecosystem to support product distribution and promotion. [9]

LDPlayer’s hardware optimization, high-resolution support, and PC control systems could allow Gamota’s products to better serve players who prefer larger screens or longer gameplay sessions. This represents a particularly relevant complementary channel for MMORPGs, strategy games, and titles with complex interfaces that may be better suited to PC-based play than casual mobile games. [9]

From an international expansion perspective, LDPlayer’s global user base and technical infrastructure could provide an additional distribution touchpoint beyond conventional app stores. However, the commercial impact of the agreement will depend on the products selected, the markets targeted, and the extent to which technical optimization is integrated with marketing and user acquisition activities.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Lê Quang Tự Do, Director General of Vietnam’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, together with other representatives from the regulatory sector. This presence reflects growing institutional attention toward international cooperation and the expansion of Vietnamese game publishing capabilities into overseas markets. [9]

Policy & Infrastructure

Regulatory Developments & Compliance Updates: Vietnam Proposes Testing Mechanisms and Tax Incentives for Domestic Games

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is seeking feedback on a draft amendment to Decree 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information. One notable addition is the introduction of formal criteria for identifying a “Vietnamese game” as the basis for applying certain support measures. [10][11]

Under the proposal, a product could qualify as a Vietnamese game when it is developed by a Vietnamese company, the company legally owns the intellectual property rights to the software, the game contains Vietnamese cultural or historical elements, and Vietnamese nationals account for at least 30% of the personnel directly involved in production. Eligible products could be tested for up to 90 days with fewer than 10,000 players and no revenue generation, provided that the company submits prior notification at least 10 days before the test begins. [11]

For games featuring educational content or promoting Vietnamese cultural and historical values, the draft proposes a two-year corporate income tax exemption followed by a 50% reduction in tax payable for the next four years. Specialists and employees directly involved in producing eligible products could also receive comparable personal income tax incentives. [10][11]

The draft additionally proposes a simplified temporary licensing mechanism for imported games used exclusively in esports tournaments. This could address an important barrier to Vietnam hosting international competitions involving titles that have not been commercially released in the domestic market. [11]

If adopted with transparent assessment criteria, the testing mechanism could help studios reduce development costs and product risks before full commercial release. Tax incentives could also encourage greater investment in intellectual properties incorporating Vietnamese cultural elements. However, these measures remain proposals under a draft regulation and have not yet entered into force.