UGC Game, a creative playground for Vietnamese developers
The concept of UGC user-generated content, is changing the gaming industry rapidly. Like the above platforms, users can design their own virtual worlds, build games and make money from their own creations.
Roblox is the focus of the UGC wave in Vietnam, thanks to VNGGames, a Roblox issuing partner in Vietnam, playing an important role in building a domestic UGC ecosystem.
This platform has provided creators with a favorable environment, saving server costs, being provided with a cloud system, without the need for large investments in marketing, promotion...
Roblox's money-making model, through selling virtual items and payment experiences, allows global creators to earn $923 million on the Roblox platform through the Developer Exchange (DevEx) program by 2024, up 25% from $741 million in 2023. In 2024, the platform supported 600 Vietnamese developers, generating millions of USD in revenue.
Along with Roblox, Fortnite Creative and Minecraft also contributed to the UGC trend. fortnite Creative, launched in 2018, allows players to design maps and games in Fortnite's engine, with the Creator Economy 2.0 program (from 2023) bringing in a revenue share of up to 40%.
Minecraft, with more than 140 million monthly players, provides a sandbox environment to create new worlds, interfaces, and gameplay modes, while supporting earnings through the Marketplace. These platforms are attracting Vietnamese players to try their hand at, from building arenas in Fortnite to recreating cultural relics incraft.
Potential and competitiveness
Many content creators in Vietnam have developed UGC games, thereby creating a stable source of income, such as Pham Dai Huy Man or Ha Tung Duong.
For example, Tung Duong, with more than six years of experience in developing games on Roblox, is currently a project manager at System Arts Studio, a Vietnamese studio specializing in developing games on this platform. The studio's Multiverse Defenders game title has been loved by the global Roblox community, affirming the creative ability of Vietnamese developers.
Vietnam used to be a big destination for the game processing industry, but its dependence on processing (outsourcing) has caused creative talents to be "stuck". Roblox as well as other platforms such as fortnite, Minecraft provide an environment for Vietnamese creators to try their hand at original products, while gradually building their personal mark and even exporting products to the world.
Of course, in addition to opportunities, developing on UGC platforms such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft also has many challenges. Vietnamese developers must compete with millions of international studios, meet the requirements of multi- task skills, and build a community of loyal players.
However, looking more broadly, the diverse UGC ecosystem from Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft is opening up opportunities for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the global creative economy, from game development to digital content creation and Metaverse.
The platforms have also focused on establishing deeper interactive connections with the Vietnam Developer group. In the near future, within the framework of Vietnam Gameverse 2025, Roblox Global platform will meet with Vietnamese developers, organize connection activities, and open up cooperation opportunities between developers and major domestic brands.
According to market research firm Statista, the global UGC gaming market will reach 14.2 billion USD in 2024, with the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region growing by 30%. Vietnam, with its young and technology-loving population, is becoming a bright spot in this wave.
A survey by the world-famous gaming website Newzoo shows that 65% of Vietnamese gamers under the age of 25 are interested in or have tried to create game content.
