Chinese Game Studies: Publishing, Platforms, and Player Cultures
September 19th – 20th Conference in Wuhan
Submit abstracts by May 15th 2026.
English/中文
Over the past decade, Chinese game studies has emerged as a rapidly developing field of research with its own distinctive concerns, methods, and intellectual trajectories. As China has become the world’s largest videogame market—home to more than 668 million players—the study of games in the Chinese context has grown alongside the industry itself. Scholars have increasingly examined the intersections of technological innovation, cultural identity, industrial transformation, and regulatory governance that shape game development and play in China today. At the same time, Chinese scholars, critics, journalists, and industry practitioners have begun to articulate a localized discourse about games that does not simply reproduce frameworks from Euro-American game studies but instead engages with China’s particular histories of media, culture, and digital platforms.
This conference invites scholars, practitioners, and students to explore the evolving field of Chinese game studies and the broader ecosystems in which games in China are produced, circulated, and interpreted. We welcome submissions related to Chinese game studies or by Chinese games researchers. In 2026, we are especially interested in interrogating the intellectual foundations of Chinese game studies itself. What are the key texts, debates, and scholarly traditions that shape the field? To what extent does Chinese game studies emerge from the frameworks and canons of Western game studies, and where does it draw on distinct intellectual histories within Chinese media studies, cultural studies, design research, and digital humanities? How are games written about, archived, critiqued, and theorized within Chinese-language scholarship and journalism?
The conference will take place in Wuhan, one of China’s major educational and technological centres, and aims to bring together an interdisciplinary community of researchers working across the humanities, social sciences, and human–computer interaction (HCI). By fostering dialogue between academic researchers, students, and industry professionals, the event seeks to map the present landscape of Chinese game studies and consider its future directions.
Suggested Topics
We welcome submissions related to Chinese game studies or by Chinese games researchers. We also invite research on a wide range of topics related to videogames in China, including but not limited to:
Chinese Game Studies as a Field?
- Histories and intellectual genealogies of Chinese game studies
- Key texts, journals, and debates in Chinese-language scholarship on games
- Relations with global game studies
Industrial Evolution
- From low-cost games to AAA production
- Mobile gaming dominance and platform ecosystems
- Independent development and emerging creative practices
Unique Games, Platforms, and Technologies
- Platform ecosystems and distribution infrastructures in China
- Mobile-first design and monetisation (e.g. gacha, live ops)
- Streaming, esports, and online content ecosystems
Cultural Identity and Guofeng
- The rise of guofeng games and aesthetics
- Adaptations of mythology, literature, and history in games
- Games as vehicles of nationalism, heritage, and soft power
Regulatory Environments
- Licensing, government policy and regulation of digital games
- Youth gaming restrictions and debates around game addiction
- Monetization systems such as loot boxes and gacha mechanics
Transnational dynamics
- Cross-cultural circulation of Chinese Games
- The increasing global visibility of Chinese games and platforms
- Gameplay under conditions of precarity or instability
Player Cultures
- Youth gaming cultures and online communities
- PC and console gaming audiences
- Streaming, fandom, and participatory culture
Publishing About Games
- Videogame journalism
- Criticism, reviewing, and influencer culture
- Game archives, museums, and preservation initiatives
These are just some provocations to ignite your own ideas with this year’s theme. As always, CDiGRA is open to any hot topics in game studies. We’re looking forward to hearing your versions of gameplay!
Submissions
We welcome proposals from scholars, students, academics, and independent researchers, particularly those based in Chinese-speaking regions or working on any aspect of Chinese videogame cultures. Possible formats include: Research papers, Industry or practitioner presentations, Early-stage research or doctoral work
Submission Guidelines:
Submissions can be in English or Chinese. Please submit an abstract of 1.5 to 2 pages (excluding references). Please submit abstract as a pdf using the template found here to the following email address: chinesedigra@gmail.com Include ‘CDiGRA 2026 Submission’ in the subject line of your message.
Important dates:
- Friday May 15th Submission deadline
- Monday July 20th Notification of acceptance
- Monday August 3rd Registration opens
- Monday August 20th Deadline for online presenters to submit pre-recorded video presentations and transcripts for translation and subtitling
- September 19th – 20th Conference in Wuhan
This conference aims to create an interdisciplinary forum for discussing the past, present, and future of Chinese game cultures and scholarship. At this interdisciplinary gathering, we hope to foster new conversations about how games in China are produced, regulated, played, and written about—and how the field of Chinese game studies itself continues to take shape.