ChinaJoy 2026 Opens in Shanghai, Qualcomm Showcases 300+ Devices, Game Users Reach 684 Million

On July 31, 2026, the China International Digital Entertainment Exhibition (ChinaJoy) opened in Shanghai. No independent booths were present from leading PC processor and graphics card makers, and the few major PC manufacturers that did attend used only a portion of partner booths. The event focused on gaming ecosystem diversity, and player enthusiasm at the venue was unaffected by the absence of hardware vendors.

Qualcomm's exclusive Snapdragon theme hall, located in the N5 pavilion, showcased over 300 devices and offered more than 200 interactive projects. In 2026, more game company booths were consolidated into Qualcomm's area, with multiple sections displaying promotions of related devices and chip solutions in esports events. REDMI and Nubia exhibited unreleased new phones, while iQOO and OnePlus announced some details of their next-generation flagship models at pre-event activities.

The number of PC peripheral makers increased at ChinaJoy 2026, including keyboard and switch manufacturers. TCL displayed new monitors from several PC makers based on its products. YMTC and Kioxia showcased their latest SSDs and sold them on-site. Domestic GPU maker Lixuan exhibited multiple mass-produced graphics cards and demonstrated a domestic x86 gaming PC based on a Zhaoxin and Lixuan solution.

The number of anime-style game booths decreased, but established game makers attracted significant visitor interest. The PlayStation booth had long queues for Gran Turismo 7, while games such as King of Fighters, Metal Slug, and Legend drew large crowds.

Non-gaming companies also participated. BYD brought multiple anime-themed vehicles to the venue and hosted game challenge events, SF Express participated with anime-style characters, and Tmall offered game-related home and costume products.

The China International Digital Entertainment Industry Conference released the "2026 China Game Industry Report (January-June)". As of the end of June 2026, domestic game users reached 684 million, up 0.82% year-on-year, and overall industry sales revenue reached RMB188.45 billion, up 12.17%. Among this, PC client game market revenue grew 27.92%, higher than mobile gaming's 7.9%.