Impact of Censorship on Vietnamese Indie Games

Vietnam’s gaming industry is booming, projected to reach US$750.6 million by 2027, yet indie game studios face significant hurdles due to strict censorship laws. These regulations require games to align with cultural and political standards, often leading to self-censorship to secure approval for local distribution.

Vietnamese indie developers, such as Hiker Games, must ensure their games comply with content laws managed by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). This involves avoiding themes that oppose the state, undermine national security, or promote violence and obscenity. For example, historical games like Hiker Games’ 7554, set during the First Indochina War, must align with official narratives to avoid bans.

To balance creativity and compliance, studios often tweak game content, such as removing political subplots or moderating violence. This self-censorship can limit artistic expression but also encourages innovative storytelling within regulatory boundaries. The recent Steam ban in Vietnam, effective as of May 2024, has further complicated distribution, pushing developers to focus on local channels and adhere strictly to regulations.

Vietnam’s gaming industry has emerged as a key player in Southeast Asia, with a projected market value of US$750.6 million by 2027, driven by a large, internet-savvy youth cohort and a growing middle class. However, the industry faces significant challenges due to stringent censorship regulations, particularly affecting indie game studios like Hiker Games. This report explores how these studios navigate content laws, the balance between self-censorship and creative freedom, and the impact of recent regulatory shifts, such as the Steam ban.

The gaming sector in Vietnam has seen rapid growth, with total revenue estimated at US$489.3 million in 2022. This growth is fueled by a population of over 54.6 million mobile gamers, ranking third in Southeast Asia. However, the regulatory environment is tight, with laws prohibiting content that opposes the state, undermines national security, propagates violence, obscenity, or discloses state secrets, as outlined in Vietnam’s Regulation of Video Game Services: September 2023. These regulations are part of a broader strategy to control media, with Vietnam ranked “very serious” for press freedom in 2021 by Reporters Without Borders, and classified as “not free” for internet access by Freedom House.

Vietnam’s censorship framework requires game developers to obtain approval from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) for content, especially for G1 games (online games with player interaction). The approval process, detailed in the New Circular on Online Games in Vietnam, involves ensuring cultural appropriateness and suitable age ratings. Developers must also manage players’ accounts and limit playtime for minors under 18 to 180 minutes per day. This process is governed by decrees like Decree 72/2013/ND-CP and Circular 24/2014/TT-BTTTT, which mandate that game content must not harm national traditions or offend reputations, as noted in Regulations on licensing game publishing in Vietnam.

Indie studios, such as Hiker Games, founded in 2009 and known for titles like 7554 and Caravan War, must navigate these laws by self-censoring. For instance, 7554, a first-person shooter set during the Franco-Vietnamese War, had to ensure historical depictions aligned with official narratives, as seen in 7554: Glorious Memories Revived | Southeast Asia Game Wiki. Developers often avoid politically sensitive topics, moderate violence, and ensure cultural representations are respectful to secure approval. This self-censorship is a response to the risk of bans, as evidenced by the non-release of Mega Man 5 in Vietnam due to Vietnam War references, mentioned in the List of banned video games by country.

The 2018 article Vietnamese Indie Development: Exploring The Landscape of Mobile Clones highlights that games like “Papers Please” could never work in Vietnam due to censorship, pushing developers to focus on less controversial themes. This adjustment is crucial, given the time-consuming approval process, which can take up to 180 days for updates, as per the New Circular on Online Games in Vietnam.

While censorship limits creative freedom, it also fosters innovation within boundaries. Developers like Hiker Games incorporate compliance into the design phase, ensuring games meet regulatory standards to avoid delays. For example, they might remove political subplots or adjust historical accuracy to align with official teachings. This balance is evident in the success of games like Axie Infinity by Sky Mavis, which navigated regulations to achieve global acclaim, as discussed in From Flappy Bird to Axie Infinity and beyond, Vietnam’s game developers see a bright future ahead.

However, the controversy lies in the impact on artistic expression. Some developers view these regulations as stifling, while others see them as a challenge that encourages unique storytelling. Reddit discussions, such as r/VietNam on Some Vietnamese won’t be able to play the game they helped create, highlight concerns about Steam’s ban affecting access, with developers noting the difficulty of competing with international games not subject to local scrutiny.

On May 7, 2024, Steam was blocked by major Vietnamese ISPs, as reported in Internet censorship in Vietnam, due to non-compliance with licensing requirements. This ban, detailed in Steam is now banned in Vietnam, stems from complaints by local developers about unfair competition, as Steam games bypass the approval process. This has forced Vietnamese studios to focus on local distribution, increasing reliance on compliance with MIC regulations. Players and developers have turned to workarounds, such as using alternative accounts or third-party stores, as seen in Reddit posts like If you are still doubting about Vietnam game censorship law, this should show you how bad it’s really is.

Despite these hurdles, Vietnam’s gaming industry continues to grow, with developers finding ways to express creativity within regulatory constraints. The balance between self-censorship and creative freedom is delicate, but studios like Hiker Games demonstrate resilience by producing culturally resonant games. The Steam ban, while challenging, may push for stronger local ecosystems, ensuring the industry thrives while adhering to national standards.

This comprehensive approach ensures that while censorship poses challenges, it also shapes a unique gaming landscape in Vietnam, balancing innovation with compliance.