The 2025 China Digital Entertainment Conference commenced in Guangzhou's Tianhe district on Dec 18, followed by the 2025 Guangzhou Cultural Industry Fair, underscoring Guangzhou's growing prominence in the game and e-sports sectors.

In 2024, Guangzhou's game industry revenue surpassed 140 billion yuan ($19.96 billion), an increase of over 10 percent year-on-year and accounting for more than 40 percent of the national market share. Mini-program games contributed over 15 billion yuan, while overseas revenue approached 20 billion yuan, reflecting sustained growth in both domestic and global markets.

The industry has developed a comprehensive ecosystem spanning R&D, distribution, and operation. Originally centered along Tianhe's Keyun Road, known as "China's game first street", the cluster has expanded across the city to include Tianhe Smart City, forming an integrated chain from incubation to global distribution.

Supporting this development, Guangzhou is preparing to introduce its first dedicated policy to promote the game and e-sports industries, aiming to enhance service support and cultivate a full-cycle innovation ecosystem. During the conference, the newly established Tianhe Game Industry Service Center was unveiled in Tianhe, signaling strengthened institutional backing.

These favorable conditions are yielding notable outcomes. For instance, Tianhe-based developer Kuro Games received the Players' Voice Award at The Game Awards (TGA) for its title Wuthering Waves, while the GZG Guangzhou e-sports team achieved national competitive success. In the mini-games sector, Guangzhou companies secured 28 spots in China's 2024 Top 100 ranking.

The GZG Guangzhou e-sports team celebrates its victory at the awards ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]