Recap of the Week
- Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố was one of the week’s most notable climbers, with its Android listing rising 12 places from #31 to #19. Estimated revenue increased from USD 19,279 to USD 30,883, up approximately 60.19%, during the same week the game introduced the Lễ Hội Trứng Vàng event.
- Vietnam saw another notable market entry as Where Winds Meet officially launched on September 10 through Funtap Games, with full Vietnamese localization, local server infrastructure, and technical support. At the same time, FC Mobile Việt Nam introduced The First, its first card season developed exclusively for the Vietnamese market.
- In esports, Hoàng Bảo won FVSL Summer 2026 at the offline Finals in Hanoi on September 12, further strengthening Vietnam’s competitive FC Mobile ecosystem.
- Vietnam’s B2B gaming ecosystem also saw new activity as Gamesforum Vietnam 2026 was announced to return to Hanoi with an expected attendance of more than 800 and three content tracks covering UA, Monetization, and Business & Operations. Meanwhile, PTIT and Horus Productions signed a partnership focused on game talent development.
Market & Game Performance
Dynamic ranking: Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố climbs to #19 as five listings return to the Top 50
AppMagic data this week shows three listings climbing by at least 10 positions in Vietnam’s Top 50 mobile game revenue ranking. Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố on Android stood out toward the upper end of the chart, rising from #31 to #19, while Zenless Zone Zero-Gamota moved up to #35 and Thợ Săn Quỷ: Đại Chiến Dị Giới reached #50. [1]
No title more than doubled its revenue this week, and no recently released game newly entered the Top 50. Meanwhile, five listings returned to the ranking, with Fortnite re-entering at #21 and Garena® Delta Force at #31. [1]
Rank Spike: Three titles record significant ranking gains
Three listings climbed by at least 10 positions compared with the previous week:
- Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố on Android rose 12 places, from #31 to #19, with estimated revenue of around USD 30,883.
- Zenless Zone Zero-Gamota climbed 12 places, from #47 to #35, with estimated revenue of around USD 16,620.
- Thợ Săn Quỷ: Đại Chiến Dị Giới on Android rose 10 places, from #60 to #50, with estimated revenue of around USD 12,738. [1]
Among them, Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố recorded the highest revenue. Compared with the previous week, revenue from its Android listing increased from USD 19,279 to USD 30,883, equivalent to approximately 60.19% growth. [1]
The increase coincided with new LiveOps content. On September 7, version 1.4.0 of Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố introduced the Lễ Hội Trứng Vàng event, alongside bug fixes and stability improvements. Version history also shows that the game continued to update to version 1.5.0 during the week. [2]
The arrival of a new event while the game was still relatively close to its launch period may have helped create additional reasons for players to return and continue spending. However, AppMagic only provides overall revenue movement at the listing level and does not attribute revenue to individual activities, so the specific contribution of Lễ Hội Trứng Vàng to the 60.19% increase cannot be determined.
From a LiveOps perspective, the case again shows that the early weeks after launch depend on more than the number of players acquired when servers first open. Maintaining a steady cadence of events, rewards, and limited-time content can help extend early monetization momentum, particularly for idle RPGs built heavily around collection and progression.
Back-to-top: Five listings return to the Top 50
Five listings from games released more than three months ago returned to the Top 50 after ranking outside it in the previous week:
- Fortnite returned at #21, with estimated revenue of around USD 28,109.
- Garena® Delta Force returned at #31, with estimated revenue of around USD 18,468.
- Lords Mobile – Gamota rose from #51 to #45, with estimated revenue of around USD 14,734.
- Fishdom climbed from #54 to #48, with estimated revenue of around USD 13,441.
- Thợ Săn Quỷ: Đại Chiến Dị Giới on Android rose from #60 to #50, with estimated revenue of around USD 12,738. [1]
Thợ Săn Quỷ: Đại Chiến Dị Giới appears in both Rank Spike and Back-to-top because its Android listing climbed by exactly 10 positions while also moving from outside the Top 50 into the ranking this week.
The relatively high re-entry positions of Fortnite and Garena® Delta Force show that established titles can still generate strong revenue weeks without being tied to a new launch cycle. More broadly, this week’s movement was again concentrated around LiveOps and the reactivation of existing players, rather than a new wave of game launches.
New Releases & Major Updates: Where Winds Meet enters Vietnam as FC Mobile takes localization deeper into in-game content
Where Winds Meet officially launches in Vietnam through Funtap Games
On September 10, Where Winds Meet officially launched in Vietnam through Funtap Games. The open-world action RPG from NetEase Games is being operated locally with full Vietnamese-language localization, local server infrastructure, and technical support, while supporting cross-platform play across PC, console, and mobile. [3]
One notable feature is that players of the international version can retain and synchronize their data when playing the Vietnamese release. This approach reduces friction for an existing community that formed before the local version became available, rather than requiring those players to start over entirely.
Alongside its product infrastructure, Where Winds Meet also announced a Creator Fund for content creators in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, aimed at supporting content production and community building across the region. [3]
From a market-entry perspective, the launch provides a notable example of how a large international IP can enter Vietnam through a more end-to-end localization model. Local publishing extends beyond language translation or media buying to include server operations, customer support, account continuity, and the creator ecosystem.
For international publishers, this approach can reduce some of the friction involved in moving from global availability to local operations: the existing community can be retained, while new players receive a language and support experience better suited to the domestic market.
FC Mobile Việt Nam introduces its first card season developed specifically for Vietnam
To mark its first anniversary, FC Mobile Việt Nam introduced The First, its first exclusive card season designed specifically for the Vietnamese market, which officially launched on September 10. [4]
One of the highlights is the addition of Nguyễn Minh Phương, former captain of the Vietnam national team, winner of the 2010 Vietnam Golden Ball, and a member of the squad that won the 2008 AFF Cup. He becomes the second Vietnamese legend to appear in FC Mobile Việt Nam, following Nguyễn Hồng Sơn. [4]
The notable point is not simply the addition of another Vietnamese footballer to the roster. The First was developed as a dedicated content package for the local market, representing a deeper level of localization than interface translation or country-specific marketing campaigns alone.
For live-service games, market-exclusive content can increase local relevance without requiring changes to core gameplay. Integrating domestic sporting icons into a global content system can also give local communities a stronger sense of representation and ownership.
Esports & Community
Esports Highlights & Tournament Updates: Hoàng Bảo claims the FVSL Summer 2026 title
Hoàng Bảo wins FVSL Summer 2026 in Hanoi
On September 12, the FVSL Summer 2026 – FC Mobile Vietnam Super League Finals took place at Mỹ Đình Indoor Athletics Arena in Hanoi with six competing players. After dropping into the lower bracket, Hoàng Bảo defeated Gia Nam before returning to the Grand Final, where he overcame Anh Tú to claim the championship. [5]
This marks Hoàng Bảo’s first major FVSL title. He had previously reached the Top 8 at the FC Pro Mobile Mid-Season Playoffs 2026, while Anh Tú entered the tournament as a world runner-up.
The season also connects directly to the international esports system. Hoàng Bảo, Anh Tú, and the other two players in the Top 4 will represent Vietnam at the FC Mobile Pro Championship, scheduled to take place in South Korea in October 2026. [5]
Holding the Finals offline in Hanoi adds another layer of value beyond competitive performance. For publishers, a tournament such as FVSL can serve both as a performance pathway for players and as a community activation platform where fans can interact directly with the game, competitors, and surrounding brand ecosystem.
For a mobile sports title, connecting in-game content, domestic competition, and international tournaments also helps turn the competitive ecosystem into part of a long-term engagement strategy rather than a standalone marketing activity.
Industry Events, Conferences & Awards: Gamesforum Vietnam expands its focus toward growth and business operations
Gamesforum Vietnam 2026 announced to return to Hanoi in November
On September 8, Gamesforum Vietnam 2026 was announced to return to Hanoi on November 25 at JW Marriott Hanoi. The third edition is targeting more than 800 attendees and will feature three dedicated content tracks covering User Acquisition, Monetization, and Business & Operations. [6]
Compared with previous editions, this year’s program expands further into product development and business operations, alongside established topics including UA, Ad Monetization, and IAP. Sessions will also feature simultaneous English–Vietnamese interpretation and aim to deepen connections across the APAC gaming community.
The continued expansion of both the scale and agenda of a B2B gaming event in Vietnam reflects how industry needs are moving beyond the question of user acquisition alone. Studios and publishers increasingly need to address product, monetization, operations, and international expansion at the same time.
For international companies evaluating Vietnam, events such as Gamesforum can also serve as a layer of soft infrastructure for the market by creating opportunities to understand local conditions, meet potential partners, and reduce information gaps before entering operations.
Industry & Business Developments
Partnerships & Talent Development: PTIT and Horus connect game education with industry practice
On September 11, the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT) and Horus Productions signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening links between education, industry, and talent development for Vietnam’s game sector. [7]
Under the agreement, Horus will provide opportunities for students to visit, intern, and work at the company; contribute experts to advise, evaluate, and develop game-related curricula; and collaborate with PTIT on workshops, professional competitions, research, and product development. Students will also have opportunities to participate in real-world projects during their studies.
Horus said that after nearly nine years of development starting in mobile gaming, the company has reached nearly 300 million installs and more than 10 million monthly active players, while also expanding into AI and robotics. [7]
For Vietnam’s game industry, the partnership is notable because the talent pipeline remains an important component of long-term scalability. Direct studio involvement in curriculum development, internships, and project-based learning can help narrow the gap between academic skills and real-world production requirements.
From an ecosystem perspective, it also shows that the professionalization of Vietnam’s gaming industry depends on more than publishers, capital, or UA. Building a workforce that understands technology, design, creativity, and product thinking will directly influence the ability of Vietnamese studios to develop products and compete internationally.
References
[1] AppMagic. Vietnam Top 50 Mobile Game Revenue Ranking – September 7–13, 2026.
[2] APKPure. Đội Tướng Nhí Nhố 1.4.0 – Version history, September 7, 2026
[3] Thanh Niên. Tựa game võ hiệp ‘Where Winds Meet’ chính thức phát hành tại Việt Nam
[4] GameK. FC Mobile Việt Nam lần đầu ra mắt mùa thẻ độc quyền nhân dịp sinh nhật 1 tuổi
[5] Thanh Niên. Hoàng Bảo đánh bại đối thủ mạnh, xứng đáng vô địch FVSL Summer 2026
