Sep 29, 2026

Industry insight

Vietnam Game Industry Weekly Updates: September 21–27, 2026

Recap of the Week

Vietnam’s Top 50 mobile game revenue ranking saw notable shifts this week, led by Crossfire: Legends, which climbed 22 positions to #6 while revenue increased 161.27% week over week. The surge coincided with the rollout of Version 5.0, featuring a new ranked season, Battle Pass Season 5, and a Pacific Rim collaboration. [1][2][3]
Tam Quốc Thú Hóa entered the Top 50 at #46 within its first three months after launch, while WARPATH, Haunted Room, Sniper Battle, and Garena® Delta Force returned to the ranking. [1]
The market welcomed more new content as 3Q Đào Đào Đào officially launched on September 23, while Funtap’s Hắc Tây Du: Chương Cấm opened its Alpha Test on the same day. [4][6]
Vietnam’s NARAKA: Bladepoint national team won a bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games, marking the first Asian Games medal for Vietnamese esports. [8][9]
PUBG Asia Stars 2026 saw a notable development in tournament operations as KRAFTON released the findings of a review into a competition-related matter, followed by a response from the team involved. [10][11]
VTC Mobile continued to advance its “Go Global” strategy at Tokyo Game Show 2026, while Visa continued its partnership with Vietnam MLBB Championship Fall 2026 as Title Sponsor. [12][13][14]
The draft Law on Cultural Industry Development was reviewed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on September 24. The draft proposes a controlled testing mechanism for new products, technologies, and business models across gaming and other cultural industries. [15][16]

Market & Game Performance

Dynamic ranking: Crossfire: Legends Breaks into the Top 10 as Revenue Jumps Over 161%

Appmagic data this week shows notable movement across several segments of Vietnam’s Top 50 mobile game revenue ranking. Eleven titles climbed at least 10 positions, while Crossfire: Legends stood out with a 22-position rise and revenue that more than doubled from the previous week. [1]

Rank Spike: 11 Titles Record Significant Ranking Gains

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

Crossfire: Legends rose 22 positions to #6, generating approximately USD 52,486.
Genshin Impact – Funtap rose 19 positions to #12, with revenue of approximately USD 34,454.
Sky: Children of the Light rose 18 positions to #25, generating approximately USD 22,311.
Fishdom rose 10 positions to #27, with revenue of approximately USD 21,599.
Kỷ Nguyên Băng Hà: 3Q rose 19 positions to #31, generating approximately USD 20,251.
Nhất Niệm Tiêu Dao – Gzone rose 16 positions to #33, with revenue of approximately USD 18,630.
Tam Quốc Tứ Thời Ca rose 11 positions to #34, generating approximately USD 18,055.
WARPATH: HUÂN CHƯƠNG CHIẾN HỎA rose 14 positions to #43, with revenue of approximately USD 15,674.
Sniper Battle: 3D War Shooter climbed 39 positions to #45, generating approximately USD 15,306.
Tam Quốc Thú Hóa rose 17 positions to #46, with revenue of approximately USD 15,234.
Garena® Delta Force climbed 14 positions to #48, generating approximately USD 15,126. [1]

Notably, several titles in the lower half of the ranking were outside the Top 50 in the previous week. This means that this week’s movement was driven not only by shifts among existing ranked titles, but also by the renewed revenue performance of games that had previously fallen outside the chart.

Revenue Spike: Crossfire: Legends Revenue Rises 161.27%

Crossfire: Legends was the only title in this week’s Top 50 to record revenue growth of at least 100%. Estimated revenue increased from approximately USD 20,089 to USD 52,486, representing a 161.27% increase, while the game climbed 22 positions to #6. [1]

The increase coincided with the launch of Version 5.0 on September 22. The update refreshed the Economy C4 mode, introduced new Arcade and PvE content, and opened Classic Ranked Season 5, Economy Ranked Season II, and Battle Pass Season 5. [2][3]

Battle Pass Season 5 runs from September 22 to December 7 and introduces a Three Kingdoms-themed weapon set alongside new equipment and characters. On September 25, the game also activated its Crossfire: Legends × Pacific Rim collaboration, featuring missions to obtain the Gipsy Danger character as well as limited-time events and items. [2][3]

The timing of these updates alongside the AppMagic revenue surge suggests that Version 5.0 likely contributed meaningfully to this week’s performance. The game created multiple reasons for players to return through a new ranked season, refreshed gameplay, and an IP collaboration, while the Battle Pass and limited-time activities added further monetization touchpoints. However, the available data does not allow the contribution of each individual activity to be isolated.

New Release: Tam Quốc Thú Hóa Enters the Top 50

Tam Quốc Thú Hóa, an Idle RPG, entered the Top 50 this week at #46, with estimated revenue of approximately USD 15,234. The title was released on August 6, 2026, meeting the criteria of a game launched within the past three months that did not appear in the previous week’s Top 50. [1]

The appearance of an Idle RPG in the Top 50 roughly two months after launch suggests that a title can still generate additional growth momentum beyond its initial release period. However, its ability to maintain this ranking over the coming weeks will provide a more meaningful indication of player retention and long-term LiveOps effectiveness.

Back-to-Top: Four Titles Return to the Top 50

Four titles released more than three months ago returned to the Top 50 after being absent from the previous week’s ranking:

WARPATH: HUÂN CHƯƠNG CHIẾN HỎA, at #43, with approximately USD 15,674 in revenue.
Haunted Room: Ngôi Nhà Hắc Ám, at #44, with approximately USD 15,485.
Sniper Battle: 3D War Shooter, at #45, with approximately USD 15,306.
Garena® Delta Force, at #48, with approximately USD 15,126. [1]

Among these titles, Sniper Battle recorded the strongest ranking comeback, climbing 39 positions. The return of games spanning strategy, tower defense RPG, and shooter genres also shows that revenue reactivation this week was not concentrated in any single category.

New Releases & Major Updates: A New Three Kingdoms Title Launches as Funtap Tests a New Journey to the West IP

3Q Đào Đào Đào Officially Launches in Vietnam

On September 23, 3Q Đào Đào Đào officially launched in Vietnam. The game focuses on recruiting famous Three Kingdoms characters, building lineups, and developing player strength through progression systems and ranking-based competition. [4]

Around launch, the game introduced a series of new-server activities, ranking competitions, and starter packages. Monetization touchpoints range from first-purchase rewards and weekly/monthly passes to premium packages and offers tied to account progression. [5]

This launch structure shows that user acquisition and monetization are connected relatively early in the player journey. In a market already populated by numerous Three Kingdoms-themed collection RPGs, retaining players beyond the initial incentive period will increasingly depend on lineup depth, LiveOps execution, and community strength.

Hắc Tây Du: Chương Cấm Opens Alpha Test

Also on September 23, Hắc Tây Du: Chương Cấm opened its Alpha Test. Published by Funtap Games, the tactical hero-collection title reinterprets the Journey to the West setting with a darker visual direction, presenting familiar characters in a distinct new style. [6][7]

The game received G1 License No. 439/QĐ-PTTH&TTĐT on July 22, 2026, and the license is currently active. [7]

As the title is still in the testing phase, there is not yet sufficient basis to assess its commercial performance. However, combining a familiar IP with a different art direction provides a relatively clear way to build recognition in a highly competitive hero-collection segment. Feedback from the Alpha Test will be an important signal to watch before the game moves toward commercial launch.

Esports & Community

Esports Highlights & Tournament Updates: Vietnam Reaches an Asian Games Milestone Amid a Week of Notable Esports Developments

NARAKA: Bladepoint Delivers Vietnam’s First Asian Games Esports Medal

On September 24, Vietnam’s NARAKA: Bladepoint national team won a bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan. This marks the first time Vietnamese esports has won a medal at an official Asian Games. [8][9]

Vietnam had previously won all three group-stage matches 2–0 to reach the semifinals. The team was then defeated 2–3 by Thailand and concluded the event with the bronze medal. [8][9]

The milestone strengthens Vietnamese esports’ presence within Asia’s multi-sport competition ecosystem. For publishers, teams, and sponsors, esports’ continued integration into official medal events also creates additional connections between competitive gaming, traditional sports, and brand engagement.

PUBG Asia Stars 2026: KRAFTON Releases Review Findings and Follow-up Measures

On September 23, KRAFTON released the findings of a review into a matter that arose during PUBG Asia Stars 2026. According to KRAFTON’s announcement, the tournament organizer introduced follow-up measures after its review while also providing an explanation process for the parties involved. [10]

KRAFTON also stated that it would review several aspects of tournament operations, including participant guidance, assessment criteria, and incident-handling procedures. The team involved subsequently issued its own response and requested that the relevant matters be fully considered. [10][11]

The situation highlights the growing importance of clarity and consistency in rulebooks, competition guidelines, and incident-handling procedures as esports events expand across multiple markets. Standardizing these processes can help reduce differences in how regulations are interpreted by participating parties while supporting the continued professionalization of the competitive ecosystem.

Industry & Business Developments

Studios, Publishers & Partnerships: Vietnamese Publishers Expand International Connections and Esports Commercialization

VTC Mobile Advances Its “Go Global” Strategy at Tokyo Game Show 2026

On September 23, VTC shared details of VTC Mobile’s activities at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The event brought together more than 1,100 exhibitors from 53 countries, providing opportunities for the company to engage with international developers, publishers, and technology partners. [12]

VTC Mobile identified three main objectives: expanding its international partnership network, showcasing its product and service ecosystem, and promoting two-way cooperation. In addition to identifying international games for the Vietnamese market, the company also aims to bring Vietnamese game products to overseas audiences. [12]

For international partners, this approach suggests that the role of Vietnamese publishers is gradually expanding beyond local distribution toward acting as a two-way bridge between Vietnam and global markets. The practical impact of this strategy will ultimately depend on whether event networking can be converted into concrete licensing, distribution, or co-publishing projects.

Visa Continues as Title Sponsor of VMC Fall 2026

During the week, Funtap Games announced that Visa will continue as Title Sponsor of Vietnam MLBB Championship Fall 2026, following VMC Winter 2025. The tournament runs from September 11 to October 17. [13]

Alongside the tournament sponsorship, the VMC Fall 2026 – Visa Super Deal program offers game top-up promotions to Visa cardholders across Funtap’s ecosystem from September 20, with an additional promotion planned for the Grand Final period. [14]

The combination of title sponsorship and payment incentives shows how esports partnerships are expanding beyond brand visibility toward direct commercial touchpoints with players. For publishers, this model creates additional opportunities to connect tournament engagement with payment conversion instead of relying solely on logo exposure or event communications.

Policy & Infrastructure

Regulatory Developments & Compliance Updates: Draft Cultural Industry Development Law Proposes a Testing Mechanism for Games

On September 24, the National Assembly Standing Committee reviewed and discussed the draft Law on Cultural Industry Development. Video games are included among the sectors covered by the draft alongside other cultural industries. [15][16]

One notable proposal would allow organizations, businesses, and individuals to conduct limited trials of new technologies, products, services, or business models in areas not yet covered by existing regulations. Under the draft, such trials would be limited in duration, location, and scope, with video games among the sectors potentially eligible for this mechanism. [15]

The draft also addresses policy areas related to intellectual property, human resources, infrastructure, markets, financing, and investment support and incentives for cultural industries. During the review process, National Assembly bodies continued to call for further clarification regarding the scope, eligible beneficiaries, and consistency of these provisions with the existing legal framework. [16]

If the testing mechanism remains in the final version of the law, it could provide businesses with additional room to validate new products and business models before broader deployment. However, the proposal remains part of a draft law currently going through the legislative process and is not yet in force. Its practical scope and conditions will depend on the final legislation and subsequent implementation guidance.