Navigating reality has become an almost constant shock to the system. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, wars, political polarisation, and global environmental issues, life’s stresses are becoming increasingly difficult to escape. With individuals and collectives in a perpetual state of disturbance, peop...

In today’s hyper-connected globe, the meaning of national identity is no longer rigid, and we’re seeing a dissolution of cultural borders as we travel through our devices. This shift in mentality is happening against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop as countries prioritise regional allies.

Diverse representation is an expectation, but as individuals no longer allow themselves to be defined in singular terms, there's mounting pressure on brands to understand and sensitively reflect how the intersections between race, gender, class, and ability impact people's everyday lives.

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

In the Philippines, the esports industry is seeing a massive increase in players due to the popularity of mobile gaming. The local gaming landscape is not only for entertainment but for social inclusion, talent development, and national representation on a global stage.

With the M5 World Championship's hallmark tournament becoming the fourth-highest viewed esports event of all time, brands are moving rapidly to tap into one of the fastest-growing game markets in the world: Southeast Asia. What is the next big opportunity to win gamer loyalty in the region?

From being the biggest horror fans, Southeast Asians are becoming a powerful force in reshaping the genre. Indie visual novelKabarettransforms the gaming scene by making horror an avenue for telling the world about the region’s dark histories – from its mythical beings to its dark social reality.

Vietnam has proven itself to be a key player in game production worldwide. Vietnamese consumers care about genres, affordability, and ‘the social aspect of play,’ while the government and local game developers put more emphasis on made-in-Vietnam products and the improvement of the whole industry.