Czechia returns to ChinaJoy 2025

While the global gaming community, including Czech representatives., has been busy preparing for the upcoming Gamescom in Cologne in Germany, arguably the world’s biggest gaming event by attendance already took place in early August in Shanghai. The 22nd edition of ChinaJoy, a key event for the entire Asian market, attracted an impressive 410,000 gaming fans this year.

The Czech Delegation

It was encouraging to see that Czech game developers did not miss the opportunity to participate. They presented their work at a shared national pavilion, alongside delegations from South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and individual representatives from countries such as Germany, France, and the UK.

A key player in the Czech delegation was Cyber Sail Consulting, a consulting and scouting company that helps Czech developers connect with publishers and investors. In addition to its broader support for the Czech gaming industry, the company presented its new B2B platform, SAIL.GAME, aimed at efficiently linking developers with business partners.

Brno-based studio MADFINGER Games, the largest of its kind in the country, showcased its hyper-realistic tactical shooter Gray Zone Warfare. Released as Early Access at the end of April, the game quickly became a top title on Steam, with nearly 1 million downloads in the first month. With a solid fanbase in Asia, many of its fans visited the Czech pavilion.

Another Brno-based developer, INGAME STUDIOS, presented Crime Boss, an action game with a nostalgic retro vibe and a cast of iconic Hollywood actors including Michael Madsen, Danny Trejo, Chuck Norris, and Kim Basinger. A studio representative also spoke at the China Game Developers Conference, sharing insights on the game’s development process and the challenges the team faced. China is the largest market for the game on Steam, followed by the United States.

Also part of the Czech delegation was Skeldal Immersive, a newly founded studio by Czech gaming legend Jindřich Skeldal. At the event, he presented his upcoming project Actors, a VR simulation of an acting experience developed under the CzechInvest Technology Incubation Program.

Networking at ChinaJoy

The conference clearly helped to raise awareness of the Czech gaming industry, offering valuable opportunities for networking and discussions with publishers, developers, designers, content creators, PR agencies, and infrastructure providers. There was notable interest in localization services, including translation, voice acting, programming, investment, and technical outsourcing.

It was heartening to see that even in a country where most game studios are strongly focused on the domestic market and with over 300,000 visitors engaging heavily with local companies in the B2V section, the Czech booth attracted numerous fans of the participating studios.

For all Czech participants, ChinaJoy 2025 proved to be a valuable opportunity to better understand the broader APAC gaming ecosystem, make connections, find inspiration, and expand their global outlook.

The Czech participation was made possible with financial support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic under the PROPED economic diplomacy program, in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai, CzechInvest, and the Czech Game Developers Association.

The Chinese Gaming Market: Immense Potential

Although highly specific in its regulatory and cultural context, the Chinese gaming market remains the largest in the world in terms of both revenue and player base. According to various sources, China is home to 600–700 million gamers, spanning PC, mobile, and console platforms. The market is largely dominated by mobile gaming, fueled by the rapid development of 5G and cloud gaming services.

However, a growing PC gaming community, estimated at over 300 million players, is also driving demand for both local AAA titles and international games. Despite local regulations, China has one of the largest user bases on Steam, with Chinese titles increasingly appearing on the platform. The market offers great potential for expansion, both in the mobile and PC segments.

Major Chinese corporations like Tencent and NetEase are investing heavily in international gaming projects, providing opportunities for Czech developers looking to expand globally. These global players can assist with distribution, marketing, and access to wider audiences.

China is also investing substantially in cutting-edge technologies, including AI, cloud gaming, and virtual reality, offering access to advanced tools and helping developers stay in step with technological trends.

Another major phenomenon is e-sports, seen in China as a high-profile sport receiving government support. Massive investments in e-sports arenas and training centers have created a robust infrastructure for professional gaming and present opportunities especially for studios developing multiplayer games.

ChinaJoy is buzzing with energy

Supporting Czech Gaming

The presence of Czech studios at ChinaJoy confirmed that Czech games have a growing audience in China and that, despite regulatory and cultural challenges, the market offers significant potential for success.

While Czech gaming has long been recognized for its quality, it has historically lacked systematic state support. Unlike other countries, such as Poland in Europe or Canada, where government incentives like tax credits or interest-free loans have transformed cities like Montreal into game development hubs, Czechia has lagged behind.

This is now set to change. From January 1, 2025, the existing State Cinematography Fund was transformed into the State Audiovisual Fund, which will also support video game production. With this shift, we may see even greater Czech participation at future international events, perhaps already at the next ChinaJoy.

Jan Kubačka, Economic Diplomat

Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai