Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-12-29 15:16Core Insights - Shanghai is transforming into a cultural and creative industry leader, aiming to establish itself as an internationally influential center by 2035 through initiatives like the "Cultural and Creative 50 Policies" [4][12] - The gaming and esports sectors are emerging as significant contributors to Shanghai's cultural identity, accounting for 17.8% of national offline esports events and nearly half of the industry's revenue [4][15] Group 1: Economic Contribution - By 2016, the added value of Shanghai's cultural and creative industry accounted for 12% of the city's GDP, consistently outpacing overall economic growth [4][10] - The gaming market in Shanghai is projected to reach approximately 155.8 billion yuan in 2024, representing nearly half of China's total gaming market [15][20] Group 2: Key Drivers - The success of Shanghai's cultural and creative industry is attributed to three key factors: originality, cultural openness, and sustainable business models [4][6] - The "first-release economy" has been a significant driver, with 848 new flagship stores established in 2025, making Shanghai a preferred location for brand launches [6][10] Group 3: Industry Ecosystem - Shanghai's cultural creative parks have evolved through four stages: spontaneous gathering, rapid growth, mature development, and transformation [9][11] - The integration of technology and content, particularly in gaming and esports, is seen as a future growth area, with initiatives to combine VR technology with gaming content [20][22] Group 4: Policy Support - Recent policies, such as the "Game Ten Measures," aim to enhance the gaming IP ecosystem and support local and foreign gaming enterprises [20][22] - The city is also focusing on deepening collaboration with the Yangtze River Delta region to leverage its strengths in international engagement and copyright protection [22]