Culture Ministry Launches Thai Identity Gaming Initiative at Gamescom Asia

Thai Next Thainess opens space for a new generation to transform Thai identity games into contemporary creative works with global reach, extending through games, art, design, and contemporary performance to develop distinctive creative works.

The Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, organized the "Thai Next Thainess: Thai Identity Games Go Global" activity within gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show 2026 from October 30 to November 1, 2026, at the Thai Next Thainess booth in Hall 1 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, to provide a platform for Thai youth and creators.

Culture Minister Sabida Thaiset assigned Permanent Secretary Sarasnan Annanopphorn to convey the ministry's vision for promoting the Thai game and digital content industry at the opening ceremony of gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show, attended by executives from government agencies, private sector, and game industry representatives from both Thailand and abroad, to exchange visions and support the growth of Thailand's game and digital content industry and its connection to the international level.

Permanent Secretary Sarasnan Annanopphorn stated that gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show 2026 is another important platform for the game and digital content industry, creating opportunities for game developers, publishers, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals from Thailand and abroad to meet, exchange experiences, build networks, and expand business cooperation.

Under this concept, the Ministry of Culture, through the Department of Cultural Promotion, organized the "Thai Next Thainess: Thai Identity Games Go Global" activity to provide space for youth and creators to adapt Thai stories and identity into contemporary works in diverse formats, divided into four main activities:

1. NEXT-SHAPE: Shape the World – A game development competition adapting Thai stories, history, legends, wisdom, and culture into contemporary games, conveying Thai identity through narrative, characters, and gameplay to promote cultural learning through digital games and increase opportunities for Thai game development to reach international standards.

2. NEXT-ANIMATE: Awaken the Story – A cosplay competition allowing participants to draw inspiration from Thai history, literature, legends, and culture to create characters, costumes, and performances in contemporary forms, disseminating Thai identity through creativity and connecting with the cosplay and performance industries.

3. NEXT-IMAGINE: Create Identity – An art toy design competition inspired by Thai art, beliefs, legends, and local wisdom, blending cultural identity with modern design to create distinctive works, adding value to cultural capital and extending to creative products.

4. NEXT-MATCH: Skill Showdown – A Roblox platform game competition combining fun with learning about Thai dress and cultural elements, using games as a medium to transmit knowledge accessibly and engagingly to youth, while promoting digital technology application to disseminate and create understanding of Thai culture among the new generation.

All four activities reflect that Thai culture can be developed and communicated in more diverse new forms than familiar, especially when opening space for the new generation to apply their own perspectives and creativity to extend cultural stories.