Recap of the Week

Vietnam’s mobile game revenue rankings saw a major surge from Thế giới nước sinh tồn, which climbed 33 positions to #6, generating estimated revenue of USD 32,057, up 155.47% week-over-week. Overall, five titles gained at least 10 positions, while three established games returned to the Top 50.
Gamota released its Vietnam Mobile Gaming Industry Report Q3 2026, showing that mobile game revenue and downloads declined by 7.9% and 8.1% quarter-over-quarter, respectively, although Idle RPG, MOBA, and several other subgenres continued to grow.
Ghost Soul M – VTC Mobile officially launched on October 29, marking another commercial milestone in game publishing partnerships between Vietnamese and South Korean companies.
All three Vietnamese PUBG representatives, Anyone’s Legend, Team Flash, and Alpha Gaming, were eliminated in the Survival Stage of PGS 12, failing to qualify for the Grand Finals.
Liên Quân Mobile continued preparations for its 10th-anniversary event, Liên Quân 10Fest, while launching a costume design competition inspired by Vietnamese culture, combining community engagement with content localization.

Market & Game Performance

Dynamic ranking: Thế giới nước sinh tồn posts over 155% revenue growth as established titles return to the Top 50

AppMagic data this week shows notable movements across Vietnam’s Top 50 mobile game revenue rankings, led by the strong growth of Thế giới nước sinh tồn and significant ranking improvements among established RPG and strategy titles. In Week 44 (October 26–November 1, 2026), five games climbed at least 10 positions, one title recorded revenue growth exceeding 100%, and three games returned to the Top 50 after falling outside the rankings the previous week.

Rank Spike: Five titles climb at least 10 positions

Five titles recorded ranking gains of 10 positions or more compared with Week 43:

Thế giới nước sinh tồn was the standout performer, climbing 33 positions from #39 to #6, the largest ranking improvement among this week’s Rank Spike titles. Meanwhile, Nhất Niệm Tiêu Dao – Gzone rose 29 positions from #54 to #25, marking its return to the Top 50 after ranking outside the chart the previous week.

The presence of Survival Craft, 4X Strategy, Idle RPG, and MMORPG titles indicates that ranking movements were not concentrated in a single subgenre. However, ranking gains should be assessed alongside actual revenue changes to understand the scale of growth rather than relying solely on chart positions.

Revenue Spike: Thế giới nước sinh tồn records 155.47% revenue growth

Thế giới nước sinh tồn was the only title to meet the Revenue Spike threshold this week, with estimated revenue increasing by 155.47%, from approximately USD 12,548 to USD 32,057. The game also climbed 33 positions to #6, recording substantial gains in both revenue and ranking.

Published in Vietnam by KAN Online Entertainment, Thế giới nước sinh tồn is set in a post-apocalyptic world submerged by the ocean. Players begin on a small raft, gradually gathering resources, expanding their floating base, building production systems, and recruiting characters to confront various threats. The game combines base building, resource management, and team progression within a long-term survival gameplay loop. [1]

This growth also coincided with the game’s expanding presence across mobile app stores. According to AppInsider’s tracking data, the title reached a new milestone of #13 on Vietnam’s iOS top-grossing apps chart on October 27. By October 31, it had entered the Top 10 grossing games on Google Play Vietnam and surpassed the 100,000-install milestone displayed on its Android store listing. [2]

These simultaneous improvements in estimated revenue and app store rankings suggest that Thế giới nước sinh tồn gained notable commercial traction during its early launch period. However, there is insufficient evidence to attribute this growth directly to a particular update, marketing campaign, or monetization feature. Performance over the coming weeks will provide a clearer indication of whether the current momentum reflects initial launch interest or the game’s ability to sustain player spending over time.

New Entrants: Three established titles return to the Top 50

In Week 44, no games released within the past three months entered the Top 50 for the first time compared with the previous week. Instead, three titles launched more than three months ago returned to the chart:

Nhất Niệm Tiêu Dao – Gzone was the most notable return, re-entering the Top 50 while climbing 29 positions. The other two titles, Jackpot Party Casino Slots and Gọi Ta Quan Lão Gia, rose nine and eight positions, respectively, to rejoin Vietnam’s 50 highest-grossing mobile games.

The return of these long-running titles illustrates how mobile game revenue can fluctuate considerably even after years of operation. Nevertheless, without verified information on specific campaigns, new content, or changes in player activity, these improvements cannot be directly attributed to LiveOps initiatives.

Market Performance & Industry Trends: Vietnam’s mobile gaming market slows in Q3 as growth diverges across subgenres

On October 30, Gamota officially released its Vietnam Mobile Gaming Industry Report Q3 2026, providing an updated assessment of the Vietnamese mobile gaming market in the third quarter. According to the report, overall revenue and downloads declined by 7.9% and 8.1% quarter-over-quarter, respectively. Revenue remained relatively stable in July and August before falling more noticeably in September, while downloads continued to decline after peaking in June. [3]

However, the slowdown was not uniform across subgenres. MMORPG remained the largest revenue-generating segment despite weakening short-term momentum. In contrast, Idle RPG, MOBA, Avatar Life, and Farming recorded growth in both revenue and downloads, suggesting that several segments maintained positive momentum despite the broader market slowdown. [3]

These diverging trends highlight why assessing market potential solely through overall growth figures may overlook opportunities within specific subgenres. For international publishers, existing revenue scale should be evaluated alongside growth rates and the titles driving each segment to identify suitable opportunities and develop more effective market-entry strategies for Vietnam.

New Releases & Major Updates: VTC Mobile officially launches Ghost Soul M in Vietnam

On October 29, Ghost Soul M – VTC Mobile officially launched in Vietnam. Developed by South Korean studio Mgame, the title is a 2D side-scrolling MMORPG that brings back the martial arts and supernatural fantasy elements of the Ghost Online franchise. Its release marks the commercial rollout of the publishing partnership signed between Mgame and VTC Mobile in March 2026. [4], [5]

During the launch period, VTC Mobile introduced competitive ranking events to encourage early player engagement. Notably, the level-ranking event offers rewards to the first 10 players to reach level 70, while the combat power competition runs until November 29, featuring both in-game and real-world prizes. [6], [7]

The launch of Ghost Soul M further highlights the role of local publishers in bringing South Korean games to Vietnamese audiences. Combining an established franchise with competitive launch activities may help attract players and build an initial community. However, its long-term commercial performance will depend on the publisher’s ability to retain players and sustain revenue beyond the launch period.

Esports & Community

Esports Highlights & Tournament Updates: All three Vietnamese PUBG teams eliminated at PGS 12

On October 29, Vietnam’s three representatives, Anyone’s Legend, Team Flash, and Alpha Gaming, were eliminated in the Survival Stage of PUBG Global Series 12 (PGS 12) in China. After five matches, Anyone’s Legend finished 10th with 19 points, while Team Flash and Alpha Gaming placed 15th and 16th, respectively, with eight points each. As a result, Vietnam had no representatives in the Grand Finals held from October 30 to November 1. [8], [9]

This marked a notable setback compared with PGS Circuit 3 in August, when Vietnamese teams secured seven Grand Finals appearances across nine entries in PGS 7, 8, and 9. By contrast, during Circuit 4, Vietnamese representatives advanced beyond the qualifying stages only twice across nine entries in PGS 10, 11, and 12. [9]

These results highlight the challenges Vietnamese PUBG esports teams face in maintaining international competitiveness amid changes in team rosters and personnel. Although the decline followed controversial roster-related developments, the available evidence is insufficient to attribute the performance drop to any single factor. In the longer term, roster stability, talent development, and a competitive domestic esports environment will be important to improving international results.

Industry Events, Conferences & Awards: Liên Quân 10Fest combines an esports championship with a 10th-anniversary music festival

On October 27, Garena updated ticketing information and attendee benefits for Liên Quân 10Fest – Thập Niên Gắn Kết, scheduled for November 7–8 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. The event will combine the Arena of Glory Winter 2026 Grand Finals on the first day with a music festival celebrating Liên Quân Mobile’s 10th anniversary on the second day. [10]

Alongside different ticket categories, the event integrates rewards directly connected to the in-game experience. Attendees participating on both days can collect badges to exchange for limited-edition skin chests, while also receiving gift codes and other rewards based on their ticket categories. Linking offline participation with digital items creates additional connections between community events and in-game engagement. [10]

This combination of esports and large-scale entertainment illustrates how publishers are expanding community engagement beyond traditional competitive tournaments. For established LiveOps games, anniversary events can help reinforce player loyalty while creating additional partnership opportunities with entertainers, consumer brands, and sponsors.

Industry & Business Developments

Marketing & Community Engagement: Liên Quân Mobile continues incorporating Vietnamese culture into skin design

On October 27, Garena officially launched the Liên Quân Mobile Skin Design Contest 2026, themed “Vietnamese Women Through Reimagined Traditional Attire.” The competition encourages participants to draw inspiration from Vietnamese cultural elements, including music, painting, architecture, and fashion, to create character skins for one of four heroes: Dyadia, Roxie, Azzen’Ka, or Erin. [11]

The initiative is supported by the MAAC Vietnam Academy of Animation and Visual Effects. The grand prize includes VND 50 million and a 50% scholarship from MAAC Vietnam. Notably, the winning design is expected to be developed into a Vietnamese-themed in-game skin for one of the heroes in 2027, giving players an opportunity to see their creative ideas become official game content. [11]

This initiative illustrates how publishers can combine content localization with community-driven creativity. Rather than relying exclusively on internally developed designs, Garena invites players to contribute directly to the game’s visual identity. For international publishers, it offers a useful example of community-driven localization, where local cultural elements can support product differentiation while potentially generating stronger engagement and organic visibility.