GameVerse 2025: A Celebration of Gaming Culture
At the end of May 2025, the gaming community across the country gathered for an exhilarating event at the GameVerse 2025, deemed the largest gaming festival in Vietnam this year. Taking place over two days on May 26 and 27 at SECC (Ho Chi Minh City), the event transformed the exhibition space into a vibrant “virtual universe,” where gamers could connect and share their passion for gaming.
From the early hours of the opening day, attendees lined up, eager to participate in the festivities, some coming alone while others were part of groups or cosplay teams. This year’s GameVerse was not just a showcase for new technologies or games; it was a festival for play, a chance to meet each other, and to truly “live in the game,” embodying the spirit of gaming culture.
With the theme “Connecting Verses,” the event opened up to an expansive audience with more diverse content and an impressive turnout that could be described as “unprecedented in many seasons of GameVerse.” The Game Expo area was a paradise for explorers—from indie Vietnamese games to international products like Roblox, Riot, and Apple Vision Pro. It can be said that this was a rare opportunity for gamers, especially those in their teens, to experience gaming through VR technology, which is relatively expensive and beyond the financial reach of many young gamers.
Notably, on the evening of May 26, the main program of the event was held—the awards ceremony recognizing individuals and teams that have significantly contributed to the Vietnamese gaming community. This year continued to be a “harvest year” for VNGGames and VTC, as these two publishers dominated several important categories, such as Best Game Publisher (VNGGames, VTC), Most Popular Esports Community (VALORANT – VNGGames), and Best Mobile Esports Game of the Year awarded to VTC.
Additionally, the Himass team was recognized as the Best Esports Team. Meanwhile, Mobile Legends was awarded the Best Esports Game, and The Expendables was named the Best Esports Team of the Year after a successful year.
Furthermore, two new names also emerged and showcased their games that were well received, namely iKame Global with the game Wood Screw Puzzle and GihOt Studio with Legendary Guest (SROM).
However, one notable aspect this year was the complete absence of a familiar name: League of Legends (LoL). According to many opinions, the merger of the Vietnam Championship Series (VCS) into the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and the absence of teams like GAM Esports, MVKE, etc., has significantly impacted the local gaming scene.
GameVerse: A Must-Attend Event for the Vietnamese Gaming Community
Unlike other gaming events in Vietnam, GameVerse opens its doors to the public every year, and the organizers strive to expand the scale to attract more attendees. This is a commendable effort, especially as events continue to unite the entire gaming community rather than focusing on specific groups, which is becoming increasingly rare.
GameVerse 2025 showcases a grand and impressive scale, highlighting the deep interest of the community in various game titles—a space that was once considered a “no-go zone” is now receiving the right attention.
