The YGG Play Summit 2025 drew more than 5,600 attendees to Bonifacio Global City on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, underscoring Manila’s role as a central gathering point for Web3 creators and gaming communities. Organizers reported a total online reach of more than 490 million, with over half a million unique viewers across YouTube, Facebook, and X.

This year’s City of Play theme placed creators at the center of the industry’s growth, reflecting how they drive discovery, shape communities, and guide new users into Web3. Market data supported this trend, with global creator-driven ad spend rising to US$37 billion in 2025 and audiences increasingly using social platforms to track cultural shifts.

YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon emphasized that many creators began as volunteers or scholars before evolving into founders, esports competitors, and leading community figures. He said the Summit continues to be a place where those transitions take shape.

Global creators highlight new paths for sustainable careers

The Summit opened with a live episode of LOL Lounge featuring YellowPanther and Iceyyy with YGG’s Gabby Dizon and host Leah Callon-Butler. They discussed the foundations of long-term creator-brand partnership success, noting that authenticity and professionalism outweigh short-term gains.

Dizon stressed that consistency remains one of the most overlooked habits among new creators. Iceyyy and YellowPanther advised aspiring talent to attend offline gatherings, where real relationships and business opportunities develop.

Gamified IRL later hosted a session led by WolvesDAO’s Sam Steffanina, who moderated a debate on creator-led user acquisition. Panelists agreed that while big-name creators can generate attention quickly, sustained player retention requires deeper community roots.

Workshops by WolvesDAO, Beam, and YGG’s Metaversity covered monetization, community development, and content strategy. WolvesDAO co-founder Payton Kaleiwahea also introduced Kizuna, a platform that converts engagement data into actionable retention-focused insights. Other creators present included former PBA champion Jared Dillinger, Pichapen of SuperConnector, and Pukerainbow of Pukecast.

Awards night honors leading creators and Web3 gaming achievements

The GAM3 Awards returned to Manila, honoring Web3’s top creators and games. Creator of the Year was awarded to Cagyjan, co-founder of Silly Kitties and an early Web3 creator who started with Axie Infinity in 2020. Now based in Manila, he described receiving the award in the Philippines as especially meaningful.

Gunzilla Games’ Off The Grid claimed five titles, including a second consecutive Game of the Year award. Gunzilla’s Theodore Agranat explained how the studio collaborated with creators like Ninja, Shroud, and TimTheTatman to ease traditional players into OTG’s blockchain features.

Parallel won Best Strategy Game, EVE Frontier took Best Adventure Game, Ronin earned Best Ecosystem, Pixels won Best Browser Game, and Atia’s Legacy secured Most Anticipated Game. Pudgy Party won both Best Mobile and Best Casual Game, while Gigaverse received the Games’ Choice award.

The Summit also emphasized education and skills development through Metaversity Interactive, which brought together leaders from technology, government, and academia to identify essential Web3 and AI competencies. Participants also joined a no-code game prototyping session sponsored by Base, while Creators of Play launched a program bridging Web2 and Web3 creator ecosystems.

Attendees encountered community-focused activities across the event, including a Creator Photo Crawl, Early Risers sports sessions, and a Pob Crawl in Poblacion. Cosplayers competed in the Summit’s Cosplay Showdown, where Ken Cangas won for his Sun Wukong portrayal. Coins.ph also staged a “Love in the Metaverse” dating contest hosted by Amira Alawi and Kookoo Crypto TV.

Major partners supported the Summit across tournament, diamond, platinum, gold, and silver tiers, alongside a wide roster of media organizations.