Asia has become the world center of the gaming industry

Asia is increasingly confirming its status as the center of the global gaming industry, which was proven again at the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows Phase I, held from October 11 to 14, 2025 at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

Over four days, this event brought together more than two thousand exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, presenting the latest trends in e-sports, phygital technologies, AI, and smart devices.

Montenegro had a notable participation in this event thanks to the President of the Electronic Sports Federation of Montenegro, the Secretary General of the Adria Esports Federation and the founder of the Montenegro Future Festival. Filip Šoć.

Šoć, as part of the forum “Power Play - Transforming Gaming into Global Business”, spoke as a representative of the World Phygital Community, presenting a concept that combines physical and digital sports into a new discipline. In his presentation, he highlighted the potential of Montenegro and the Adria region to become an important bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia in the development of the e-sports and phygital industries.

"The Expo was interesting. I have already had the opportunity to attend similar events around the world, and here we had the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies. Computer and gaming equipment was in focus and this is the first time that this industry has been targeted at the Expo. Over six thousand stands, on 70 thousand square meters, confirm that this is one of the largest events in the world. Incredible numbers, incredible space, everything organized superbly, friendly people, just a wonderful experience. They dedicated themselves to the gaming section where we had panels and conferences every day. That is what they want to target in the future," shared his impressions of the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows Phase I for "Vijesti" Šoć, who was there as a representative of the World Phyygital Community.

Asia is known not only for its top gamers and teams that dominate global competitions, but also for its robust gaming industry driven by homegrown developers. From Japan and South Korea to China and Singapore, companies are developing games that dominate global markets, while innovations in e-sports and phygital technologies are further elevating the region's value.

Gaming is successfully connected to tourism thanks to festivals, fairs and tournaments that attract tens of thousands of visitors, combining entertainment, education and technology, thus creating a dynamic cultural and economic ecosystem in which digital and physical experiences go hand in hand. Šoć believes that we can learn a lot from them.

"We should apply a lot from them, especially when it comes to organization. With them, every segment is carefully planned and structured - everything is precisely organized, and every move and decision has a clear purpose and goal. They not only follow trends in gaming, but are constantly in touch with the latest achievements in the IT sector and innovations in technology, which allows them to always be one step ahead of others. In addition to following trends, they often set new standards and inspire the global industry, showing how innovation and precise organization can go hand in hand," said Šoć honestly, who in his presentation did not forget to highlight the potential of Montenegro and the Adria region to become an important bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia in the development of the e-sports and phygital industries.

NASEF (Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations) also had its part of the program at Global Sources Hong Kong Shows Phase I. It is a global non-profit organization based in California, which connects schools, universities and esports organizations from over 50 countries. NASEF uses esports as a tool for education, STEM skills development, teamwork and digital literacy of youth, through programs that combine competition, knowledge and technology.

This organization has been a partner of the Electronic Sports Association of Montenegro for several years, and thanks to this cooperation, Montenegro has licensed lecturers trained for NASEF programs. However, the concept of gamification of education has not yet fully taken root in our schools and is waiting for its opportunity to develop as an integral part of the modern teaching process. When asked how much the curriculum would facilitate the learning of the youngest thanks to gamification if e-sports became part of the education system, Šoć explains:

"Gamification of education could significantly facilitate learning for children, especially within STEM programs, where interactive and gamified approaches significantly improve engagement and understanding of the material. The key role of the Ministry is to recognize and valorize these programs, because the NASEF model is free and ready for implementation. Until this happens, students will continue to learn according to an outdated system that does not use modern technological tools," emphasizes Šoć and cites the example of Japan and Turkey.

"In Japan, the NASEF program is being introduced in as many as three thousand schools, while Turkey plans to introduce the same program in two thousand schools. Here, the potential is also present. Infrastructure is not an obstacle because tablets, computers and mobile phones are already available, which allows monitoring and implementation of the gamification system without major investments. This approach not only modernizes the learning process, but also provides children with a fun and motivating environment in which they actively participate and develop the skills necessary for the future," concludes Šoć.