SEA GAME DEV COLLECTIVE DIGEST - March 2025 Edition
Editor’s Note
Hello, Game Devs of Southeast Asia! 🎮✨
Welcome to the eighth edition of the SEA Game Dev Collective Digest! As we embrace the spirit of Ramadan, we extend our warmest wishes to all Muslim game developers in Southeast Asia. May this blessed month bring peace, reflection, and inspiration to both you and your work. 🌙🙏
As we wrap up Q1 of 2025, we’re excited to share that game launches from Southeast Asia have nearly doubled compared to our last digest! Congratulations to all of you! Launching a game in today’s volatile global landscape is nothing short of a miracle. Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back—you truly deserve it! 🙌
We’re also thrilled by the exciting games that are set to launch in 2025 and 2026. This is a monumental proof of how far we've come together as a collective 'kampung' of SEA game developers. I’m a part of it, you’re a part of it, and together, we’re part of something big that’s coming soon. Let’s keep leveling up as one!
On a personal note, I want to acknowledge the struggles faced by some of our devs, especially with the political unrest in Indonesia this month. I know the uncertainty you may be feeling, and as an artist, it’s tough. But please know that we, the Collective, are always with you. All Southeast Asian devs stand with you. Let’s continue to focus on creating the best work we can and show the world the power of SEA-made products. Together, we’re strong!
On behalf of the entire Collective, I wish you a fulfilling Ramadan, and I look forward to celebrating Eid al-Fitr with all of you at the end of the month! 🎉🕌
Let’s continue to create, connect, and grow together. Happy developing, and Happy Ramadan!
And as always, remember to hydrate. See you in the next digest!
Ardhan Fadhlurrahman - Producer and Lead Designer of AGNI: Village of Calamity, COO of Separuh Interactive
Game Releases, Launches, Updates
We’re excited by all the recent and upcoming releases from Southeast Asia in March:
Mar 3 - Sentou Gakuen: Revival - gakuen.org (Indonesia)
Mar 4 - The Butterfly Dreams - Ave Q Production (Indonesia)
Mar 4 - Tale of REN ~ [Searching for HEART droplets] ~ - Erost Game79 Studio (Thailand)
Mar 5 - Ursid - gamesnhalam and Umer Gameworks (Vietnam)
Mar 6 - Slumbering Feline - The Flavare (Indonesia)
Mar 21 - Urban Jungle - Kylyk Games, Assemble Entertainment (Thailand)
Mar 22 - Isle of Pochimoon - Antitesa Studio (Indonesia)
Mar 24 - (The Lingering) Last Customer - Storytale (Indonesia)
Also check out all the games that have launched from the region on VirtualSEA’s amazing resource here. Also, Southeast Asia Game Wiki has just updated their game database, which now features 800+ games.
In other gaming news…
Sedap! by Kopiforge (Singapore) is nominated for two awards - Best Multiplayer and BIG Impact: Diversity, and Until Then by Polychroma Games (Philippines) is nominated for one award - BIG Impact: Social Matters, at the BIG Festival at Gamescom LATAM!
Valve recently wrote about Until Then by Polychroma Games (Philippines), as part of their Steam Year in Review 2024, citing it as a game that “focused a unique lens on Filipino culture and experiences… [and] found success far beyond the Philippines, selling 92% of its units outside of its home country in 2024.”
Gambir Studios (Indonesia) and their game Spices of Life represented Indonesia and SE Asia at the ID@Xbox GDC Showcase hands-on preview event.
Afterlove EP by Pikselnesia (Indonesia) is in this month’s Xbox Indie Selects.
Cellar Vault (Malaysia) announced physical Switch and PS5 versions of Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open.
Pantaloon, just launched their micro-label publishing focusing on unique, bizarre, and innovative games.
Stairway Games (Indonesia) recently announced their all-new game Funguys Swarm, a roguelite survivor game. Their other game, Coral Island is receiving and all-new Multiplayer and Romance Update later this summer, which includes a revamped romance system, spooky festival outfits and more.
Earthquack Games (Thailand) announced their cosy flower shop simulation game Puni the Florist.
Singular Sunshine Studios (Thailand) announced their turn-based strategy roguelite Conquest Tactics: Realm of Sin.
Blue Joystick (Thailand) announced their turn-based strategy pixel fantasy game Lord of Ogre.
BattleBrew Productions (Singapore) recently put together a Guidelines Regarding Fan-Works in response to all the inquiries they get about it.
Features of the month
Grifford Academy Closed Beta (by Landshark Games)
We’re collecting expressions of interest for our upcoming closed beta for Grifford Academy in March! This closed beta is for Steam players only. Accepted players will be granted a Steam key for the full game in exchange for their feedback and provided with a special role in the Discord where they can openly discuss feedback and report bugs.
Please note we will be selecting a limited number of testers. Register your interest here.
Weyrdlets teams up with Whale and Dolphin Conservation for a Charity DLC (by Wing Yee)
We launched our first DLC, dedicated to the Whales and Dolphin Conservation. All proceeds go to them, and we launched it in conjunction with World Whales Day!
It was a joint collab between Weyrdlets and WDC: Weyrdlets did social media postings, informed our community on Discord and via newsletter, ran key giveaways, and I reached out to some news outlets to talk about the DLC.
On WDC's side, they actually have a gaming/streaming community which they promoted the DLC to. So far, WDC’s community of creators love the DLC and think it’s very cute!
This is the first time we did a DLC release so dedicating it to a charity really makes it more meaningful for us. It was an opportunity for us to do some good for the world!
Learn more about the charity partnership here.
What’s happening in Thailand (by @Kumpalit)
Gamescom Asia Comes to Thailand for the First Time
On 21st February 2025, Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) and Koelnmesse, the organizer of Gamescom, officially announced that Gamescom Asia 2025 will be held in Thailand for the first time in history!
Mark your calendars — the event will take place 16-19 October 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok. This is a huge moment for Thailand’s gaming scene as it becomes the center of Asia’s gaming industry spotlight. Stay tuned for more updates soon.
PlayNation – The First Gaming Event of 2025
On 9th March 2025, Thailand kicked off its gaming event calendar with PlayNation, a first-of-its-kind event showcasing over 60 Thai indie games in development.
The event featured inspiring speeches by industry leaders: 🎤 “Why Thailand is the Best Place to be an Indie Developer” by Richmond Lee, CEO of Bit Egg 🔗Watch Clip
🎤 “Opportunity in Gaming” by Kumpalit Phuttipinyo, Managing Director of PlayPrime 🔗Watch Speech
PlayNation is a promising sign that Thailand is ready to support its local talent and indie game developers in a big way.
Introducing Game Dev Hub Bangkok
Game Dev Hub is officially launching in 2025 — a 500-square-meter co-working space exclusively designed for game developers and digital artists in Bangkok.
📍 Location: Bangkok City Center
🎯 Mission: Support Thai game developers, foster local talent, and connect them to global platforms.
Game Dev Hub will offer resources, mentorship, workshops, and strategic support to help Thai studios thrive. With founders experienced in global game development, publishing, and investment, Game Dev Hub aims to elevate Thailand’s game IPs to the world stage.
Meet the Founders:
James Hartt — Founder of Abu Dhabi’s ADGaming, with 25 years in media and gaming.
Stefano Bianchi — Veteran game developer and interaction designer with a global teaching background.
Kumpalit Phuttipinyo (Coolerist) — Thai gaming industry icon, columnist, and founder of PlayPrime Showcase.
Kamolluck Niamkongkit — Digital arts instructor and award-winning animation director.
Stay tuned for the grand opening — this is set to become the beating heart of Thailand’s game development community.
Final Thoughts
Thailand’s gaming industry is booming — from hosting Gamescom Asia 2025 to launching Game Dev Hub and showcasing incredible indie talent at PlayNation.
With strong industry leaders, supportive communities, and growing international recognition, Thailand is shaping up to be Southeast Asia’s indie game development powerhouse.
Stay tuned — there’s so much more to come!
News, Programs and Initiatives Roundup
The Southeast Asian Games Showcase is an all-new show, partnering with
Summer Game Fest to highlight SEA games at a global level! Southeast Asian developers can apply to be featured here.
Gamescom Asia and Thailand Game Show are holding a press conference on 2 April, 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Register your interest to attend by 31 March, 2025 here.
SEARM Showcase - the Southeast Asia RPG Maker game show is back on July 2025, and are taking entries now by 1 April, 2025. Learn more here.
SGGA (Singapore Games Association) recently launched their SG Pathway program, a months-long game development workshop which includes sessions on entrepreneurship, publishing, marketing and more. Attendees comprise of students and game devs of all experience levels. If you’re interested to learn more, or participate, check in with SGGA via their LinkedIn page here.
IGG (Indie Games Group) Philippines recently held their inagaural Indie Community Awards - celebrating games made in the Philippines. Congratulations to Polychroma Games for winning Game of the Year with Until Then, and to all other teams for winning the various awards. Mickole Klein Nulud, of Polychroma Games said, “The IGG PH Awards were a blast! I got to see promising games I haven't seen before and meet fellow game devs from different places and backgrounds.”
Get ready for Indie Jam 2025 - Indie Jam 2025 is back, and is bringing a ton of games from Malaysia and across Southeast Asia including Yan Parasomnia, Kooeh: A Timeless Delight, Weyrdlets, Glyphica: Typing Survival, Of the Lilies, Dapithapon, Mimicries, Duo Quest and more. Sign up for IGDA Malaysia’s Mentor Cafe, participate in industry panels and talks, a student game jam and more. Get the latest updates here.
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The SEA Game Dev Collective (and Digest Editorial team) are: