At the recent Gamescom in Cologne, the number of Chinese game companies reached a historic high, showcasing significant presence and diverse formats. Titles such as Animal Punk, Showa American Story, and The Resisters attracted considerable attention from overseas media and players. Starting with Black MYTH - Steam Edition: Wukong, Chinese video games are rapidly taking the global stage, reshaping perceptions of Chinese-developed games and creating numerous moments of surprise and brilliance. More high-quality domestic games currently in development are poised to debut, further promoting Chinese culture to the world through the medium of gaming.
As China's largest independent gaming exhibition, WePlay Culture Show has always been rooted in the Chinese indie game scene. Through initiatives like the indiePlay China Independent Game Competition, it focuses on discovering and connecting new content creators, further linking them with the global industry. As the industry evolves, the content-experience-centric development approach represented by "indie games" has gradually influenced the broader development direction. From AAA to indie, the Chinese gaming industry is entering a new era of development.
Amidst the continuously evolving industry, WePlay constantly upgrades its content and experience by integrating high-quality games from around the world. The WePlay Culture Show features not only works representing emerging forces in gaming but also high-caliber titles that embody the industry's resources. Different gaming cultures and vertical communities converge here, fostering unique offline interactions between dedicated players and exceptional games.
WePlay 2026 will be held on November 21-22 at Hall 2.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). With a fully upgraded, larger venue and an explosive amount of content, all booth spaces are already booked. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements filled with surprises.
At WePlay 2025, over 500 games from more than 10 countries were showcased. This included national pavilions from countries like Poland, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as numerous renowned overseas developers and publishers.
These globally renowned titles and IPs have chosen WePlay as a platform to engage deeply with Chinese players, with many internationally acclaimed producers attending in person. Over the past decade, WePlay's extensive list of international guests includes many who have only appeared at WePlay within China, reflecting the global gaming market's support and recognition of the event.
Leveraging the global partnerships built over the years by CiGA (China Independent Game Alliance), the organizer of WePlay, WePlay Shanghai has become a highly international gaming exhibition, gaining increased attention and recognition worldwide. The event brings together industry partners from numerous countries and regions, along with curated game titles representing those areas.
(CiGA organized participation at BitSummit 2025 in Japan)
(CiGA organized participation at BIC Festival 2025 in Korea)
Simultaneously, leveraging its global partner network, WePlay consistently supports the overseas expansion of domestic games. By organizing multiple overseas group exhibitions annually and facilitating remote participation, WePlay helps more domestic titles reach international audiences.
On the occasion of WePlay's 10th anniversary, we aim to build better, more globalized events and platforms to help domestic games expand overseas, allowing the international industry and market to gain deeper insights into Chinese culture through the window of gaming. After a long period of low-key exploration and preparation, WePlay Expo Japan is officially announced!
WePlay Expo Japan will take place from April 2-4, 2027, at Halls 5 and 6 of the Makuhari Messe in Japan! Let us embark on a new journey together as we celebrate WePlay's 10th anniversary!
WePlay Expo Japan is authorized and produced by CiGA (China Independent Game Alliance). San-ei Co., Ltd. and iid Inc. jointly established and serve as the Executive Committee for WePlay Expo Japan.
The WePlay Expo Japan event spans three days. April 2 is Business Day, open exclusively to industry professionals such as game developers, publishers, partners, investors, and media. This day facilitates international industry interaction through business meetings, interviews, and conferences. April 3-4 are Public Days, with tickets available for general attendees.