MDEC, MATRADE Generate Over 150 Potential Business Matches At TGS 2024

From Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

TOKYO, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) have facilitated over 150 potential business matches for 10 Malaysian studios and companies during the four-day Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024 held from Sept 26-29, 2024.

Its head of digital transformation, Datuk Fadzli Abdul Wahit, said the business matching sessions enabled the Malaysian studios and companies to collaborate effectively with foreign companies, particularly from Japan.

“The feedback has been very encouraging with regards to our TGS 2024, especially for the Malaysian Pavilion as a whole.

“We hope that next year and in the future, there will be more participation from our local companies, especially in gaming, animation, and technology, as this will allow them to expand their ventures overseas.

“These Malaysian companies can also come here to have at least a perception of what the international players or studios are looking for,” he told Bernama. 

Fadzli emphasised that collaborating with MATRADE is crucial, as it will allow international partnerships among local companies, attract foreign investment into Malaysia, and establish the country as a key hub within the ASEAN region.

Themed ‘Trailblaze the World of Gaming’, the Malaysia Pavilion at TGS 2024 featured 10 Malaysian gaming companies, showcasing their innovation to the global market while exploring opportunities for collaboration with international game developers, content creators, and technology companies. 

The 10 companies are Adticles, Ammobox Studios, Bear Down Studios, Dreamscapes Edtech, Esolved MSC, Goolee, Magnus Games Studio, Rcade Studio, Why Knot, and Todak Studios. 

Key activities at the Malaysia Pavilion include high-level meetings, business matching, and networking with Japanese game publishers and technology incubators, including Bandai Namco Studio, Nintendo, and IMDA Singapore.

MATRADE and MDEC’s involvement in TGS 2024 aligns with the government’s focus on the gaming and digital content industry, a priority sector under the National Industrial Master Plan 2030.

Malaysia’s digital gaming content exports are expected to show significant potential this year, with Japan emerging as a key market amid global projections of the gaming industry reaching US$187.7 billion (US$1 = RM4.12) in 2024.

The industry recorded exports totalling RM1 billion in 2022 across 120 markets and territories, and the industry is growing at eight per cent annually.

Meanwhile, Japanese video game publisher Bandai Namco aims to collaborate with Malaysian game developers, namely Passion Republic and Virtuous Kuala Lumpur, to assist in developing original works and intellectual property (IP).

Japan’s gaming market is projected to reach 66 million users by 2029 and generate US$44.41 billion in revenue by the end of 2024, making it one of the largest gaming markets in the world.

The global gaming market is estimated to reach US$503.14 billion by 2025, with Asia Pacific set to remain the top gaming market worldwide.

-- BERNAMA