[Focus on Industry Summit] 2025 China Game Industry Annual Conference Concludes Successfully: Dual Drivers of AI Empowerment and Cultural Globalization Propel Industry into New High-Quality Development Phase

The three-day 2025 China Game Industry Annual Conference officially concluded at the Shanghai West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center. Under the theme “Innovation-Driven, Culture-Empowered, Integrated Development,” the conference was guided by the National Press and Publication Administration, jointly organized by the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association and the People’s Government of Xuhui District, Shanghai. It brought together over a thousand representatives from government, industry, academia, and research sectors to chart the future development of China’s game industry.

Data Insights: Steady Market Growth, Strong Momentum in Globalization

A core segment of the conference was the official release of the authoritative 2025 China Game Industry Report. The data revealed the resilience of China’s game industry in a complex environment: in 2025, domestic game market actual sales revenue reached 350.789 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 7.68%; the user base reached 683 million people, a year-on-year increase of 1.35%, both setting new historical highs. Particularly noteworthy, the actual sales revenue of China’s self-developed games in overseas markets reached $20.455 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 10.23%. This marks the sixth consecutive year that overseas revenue has exceeded 100 billion RMB, indicating that “going global” has become a core engine for industry growth.

Strategic Focus: Policy Support and Ecosystem Collaboration

During the conference, Shanghai Municipality released Several Measures to Support the Development of the Game and Esports Industry, and Xuhui District concurrently explained its district-level implementation rules, demonstrating Shanghai’s firm commitment and systematic planning to build a “Global Esports Capital” and a hub for digital content innovation. Furthermore, the People’s Government of Xuhui District and the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement on site, jointly announcing that the next five sessions of the China Game Industry Annual Conference will continue to be held in Shanghai, providing a sustained high-level platform for industry exchange and collaboration.

Industry Leaders’ Insights: Deep AI Integration, Culturally Confident Globalization

Leaders from twelve leading companies and institutions, including Tencent, NetEase, miHoYo, Century Huatong, Perfect World, 37 Interactive Entertainment, Youzu Network, Lilith Games, Hypergryph, Douyin (TikTok), Huawei, and Unity China, delivered keynote speeches, forming the following core consensus:

AI + Games as the Core of New Quality Productive Forces: Participants widely agreed that artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the game industry across multiple dimensions, including R&D, operations, and user experience. Companies like 37 Interactive Entertainment and Youzu Network shared practices of empowering entire workflows with self-developed large language models; Tencent and Perfect World emphasized the immense potential of AI in content generation and experience innovation; Huawei demonstrated the new possibilities brought by the HarmonyOS ecosystem for immersive, all-scenario gaming experiences.

Cultural ‘Translation’ and Confident Globalization as Key Pathways: The function of games as cultural carriers was repeatedly emphasized. NetEase, through cases like Where Winds Meet, elaborated on the progression from “product globalization” to “cultural globalization.” miHoYo presented a long-term IP strategy focused on building the cultural core of “digital worlds.” Hypergryph shared practical experience in making traditional culture “experienceable and participatory” through cross-border ecosystems. Both Lilith Games and Youzu Network pointed out that finding global emotional common ground through cultural resonance is key to internationalization.

Technology Engines Driving Cross-Border Empowerment: Unity China demonstrated the spillover effects of game engine technology into real-world sectors like automotive and industry. Perfect World explored the broad prospects of “AI + Games + All Industries.” Century Huatong called for a long-term approach to address the challenges of digital-real integration, pursuing the unity of commercial value and social significance.

Content Ecosystem and Innovation Incubation Garner Attention: Douyin Games launched the “Sprout Plan” aimed at supporting high-quality content, emphasizing the new growth model driven by content and calling for the industry to jointly nurture the creative ecosystem.

Industry Outlook: Toward a New Phase of High-Quality and Responsible Development

Relevant officials from the National Press and Publication Administration emphasized in their speeches that the game industry should adhere to the correct guidance, strengthen content creation, actively utilize new technologies to expand application scenarios, enhance cultural depth, and play a more proactive role in empowering economic and social development.

Participants unanimously agreed that China’s game industry is at a critical juncture of transitioning from scale growth to high-quality, substantive development. Against the backdrop of the全面推进 (comprehensive advancement) of the “AI Plus” initiative,不断增强 (continuously strengthening) cultural confidence, and持续优化 (continuously optimizing) policy environment, the industry will take technological innovation and cultural empowerment as its dual wings. While continuously exploring the global market, it will more deeply fulfill its social responsibilities, strengthen minor protection, explore cross-border integration, and ultimately move towards a new development stage characterized by greater creativity, competitiveness, and influence.