KUALA LUMPUR, 16 October 2026 – Malaysia is stepping up efforts to grow its games industry, with LEVEL UP KL 2026 serving as the stage for a renewed push to attract high-value investments, develop Malaysian-owned intellectual property (IP) and expand access to global markets.
Hosted by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) at CCEC, Bangsar South, the event brings together game developers, publishers, investors and technology leaders from around the world.
From Talent Hub to IP Creator: A Bigger Ambition
Officiating the event, Deputy Minister of Digital Datuk Wilson Ugak anak Kumbong said Malaysia was already well positioned to build on its industry strengths and capitalise on emerging opportunities.
“Malaysia has developed a strong foundation in game development, supported by capable local talent, international industry participation and government initiatives. We are now focused on accelerating this growth, attracting more high-value investments and enabling Malaysian developers to compete globally,” he said.
He added that success should not be measured only by what Malaysian talent helps produce for others, but also by what the country creates and owns itself.
The wider creative economy is already a major contributor. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, it added RM130.7 billion to the nation’s GDP in 2024, or 6.8 per cent of the economy, while supporting more than 763,000 jobs and generating RM63 billion in exports.
Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap Sets Clear Targets
These priorities are aligned with the Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap, led by the Ministry of Digital and implemented with MDEC, which aims to position Malaysia as a global digital creative hub. By 2030, the roadmap targets:
- RM9 billion in digital creative industry revenue
- RM6 billion in exports
- RM6 billion in strategic investments
- 10,000 high-value jobs
According to preliminary MDEC data, Malaysia’s digital content ecosystem includes approximately 300 companies with Malaysia Digital status, about 100 of which are involved in game development, spanning development services and original IP creation.
The push comes as the global industry faces rising development costs, reduced project financing and studio closures following the pandemic-era expansion, highlighting the need for more resilient local studios and wider access to international partnerships.
AI and Human Creativity Take Centre Stage at LEVEL UP KL 2026
MDEC Chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah said artificial intelligence (AI), including emerging agentic AI, gives Malaysia an opportunity to strengthen its competitiveness by combining human creativity with technology-driven productivity.
“AI is changing how games are developed, creating opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs and accelerate production. However, technology alone does not create great games. Creativity, imagination and storytelling remain essential,” he said.
“Our opportunity is to combine these strengths with AI so that our developers compete not just on cost, but increasingly on quality, innovation and productivity,” he added.
MDEC is also exploring how the National AI Compute Exchange (NACX) could help studios, particularly smaller developers, access computing resources for faster prototyping, more efficient workflows and lower technological barriers.
Building a Future-Ready Games Talent Pipeline
Talent remains central to the national agenda. With more than 45 institutions of higher learning offering creative courses, Malaysia has a strong base to build on. MDEC has set up a dedicated Talent Hub at the event, offering mentorship, portfolio reviews and career guidance from industry practitioners and educators.
Datuk Wilson also stressed that as technology reshapes the industry, human talent, originality and creative ownership must remain central, supported by responsible innovation that protects IP and respects creators’ rights.
What’s Happening at LEVEL UP KL 2026
Having grown over about 12 years into a regional platform for business, collaboration and talent development, this year’s edition features more than 50 speakers, 25 conference topics, five partner events and two masterclass workshops. Highlights include:
- The Game UX Summit, making its debut in Asia
- Games for Change and Xsolla Connect KL
- Nintendo and PlayStation industry sessions
- Unreal Engine training and a Women in Games networking session
- An expanded independent games showcase
- The SEA Game Awards Show, celebrating Southeast Asian developers
The event is targeting 400 business meetings, RM120 million in export opportunities and RM100 million in investment opportunities, with 100 businesses expected to benefit from its industry engagement programmes.
As Datuk Wilson put it, “Malaysia has no shortage of creative talent or ideas. What matters now is how far we are prepared to take them.”
For more on Malaysia’s digital push, read: Malaysia’s Digital Economy Eyes Homegrown Tech Champions.
