Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai 2025 offers key insights into China's bustling market for international studios

• China's games market is the world's largest, but entering it presents challenges.
• Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai on July 30th offers tools for international studios to succeed and one day access to ChinaJoy.
• Combines expert guidance with Asia's biggest games expo for maximum business impact

China remains the world’s largest and most lucrative games market. Yet, for Western developers and publishers, breaking into this sector presents regulatory, cultural, and competitive challenges.

To help international studios navigate these hurdles, Pocket Gamer Connects is hosting its inaugural Summit in Shanghai on July 30th, 2025, just ahead of ChinaJoy, one of Asia’s leading industry conferences.

Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Shanghai 2025 will provide critical market insights, networking opportunities, and strategic guidance for companies looking to enter - or expand within - China’s thriving games ecosystem.

Why China? 

As China's leading hub for the games industry, Shanghai stands as the ideal host city for Pocket Gamer Connects' debut summit in China. 

According to Newzoo's 2024 data, China’s games industry continues to lead globally, with mobile gaming driving over 70% of revenue, representing nearly a quarter of the entire worldwide market.

Mobile games remain the primary growth driver, generating $48.7 billion in annual revenue, nearly a quarter of global industry earnings. Powerhouses like Tencent (with hits like Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile) reported a particularly strong Q1 performance, while miHoYo's Genshin Impact continues to generate billions in revenue since its 2020 launch. The developer repeated that success again with Honkai: Star Rail.

The PC and console segments are also surging, fueled by successes like Black Myth: Wukong, which sold 10 million copies in under a week in 2024, and the international hit Marvel Rivals. Meanwhile, Steam China’s growth signals increasing demand for diverse game experiences that resonates beyond local boarders.

Launchpad for interantional developers

Shanghai benfits from government-backed initiatives like the Shanghai Digital Trade Development Plan which aims to generate $130 billion in digital services trade by 2029.

The PG Connects Summit Shanghai will serve as a critical launchpad for international developers, providing direct access to key decision-makers, investors, and potential partners. Beyond networking, the summit offers a strategic advantage by aligning with ChinaJoy, allowing participants to experience the massive event with deeper market context.

For global studios, Shanghai represents a chance to engage with the heart of China’s games culture. The city’s unique blend of commercial influence, government support, and creative talent makes it the perfect environment for forging long-term partnerships.

The PG Connects Summit will bridge the gap between East and West, offering tailored sessions, pitch opportunities, and expert guidance to help international players succeed in this competitive landscape.

A collaboration with ChinaJoy

As the first PG Connects event in China, happening this July 30th at Shanghai's Pudong Shangri-La, it represents a unique opportunity for international developers seeking to enter or expand in the world's largest games market.

Designed as the perfect precursor to ChinaJoy, the event offers a strategic two-step approach to market entry: first gaining critical insights and connections at the summit, then applying this knowledge at one of Asia's leading games industry events.

The one-day summit delivers focused market intelligence and curated networking opportunities to maximise your China experience, with all attendees receiving complimentary guided access to one day of ChinaJoy.

This powerful combination creates an unparalleled market-entry opportunity - our expert-led sessions will help you identify key opportunities, while our business-focused environment facilitates meaningful connections before ChinaJoy even begins.

With limited seats available, this is your chance to combine PG Connects' targeted insights with ChinaJoy's massive industry gathering for maximum impact.

Spaces are limited so Register now for PG Connects Summit Shanghai 2025.