China’s gaming industry achieved remarkable success in overseas markets during 2025, with self-developed games generating over $20.4 billion in international sales, marking a 10.23% year-over-year increase, according to industry reports on March 31, 2026.

This represents the sixth consecutive year that China’s gaming overseas revenue has exceeded 100 billion yuan. The achievement has elevated gaming to a national strategic priority, with the recently released 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly listing online games as a core carrier for China’s cultural export strategy.

Notable successes include “Black Myth: Wukong,” which gained widespread attention in international markets, and “Delta Force” mobile version, which attracted over 10 million registered users globally within just four days of launch. These titles demonstrate the growing competitiveness of Chinese-developed games.

South Korean game companies are also making significant investments in AI technology. Netmarble led the industry with R&D expenses of 616.4 billion won (approximately $420 million) in 2025, representing 21.74% of its revenue. The company plans to use AI for processing game voice, creating innovative characters, and generating background images.

domestically, major Chinese gaming companies reported strong financial performance. Gigabit achieved revenue of 6.205 billion yuan, up 67.89% year-over-year, while XD Inc. reported revenue of 5.764 billion yuan, up 15% from the previous year.

In March 2026, China’s National Press and Publication Administration approved 131 domestic games and 3 imported games, continuing to support the industry’s healthy development. The 2026 China Science Fiction Conference, held from March 27-29, also highlighted gaming alongside science fiction, esports, and virtual reality technologies.