Malaysia has added a new event to the international amusement calendar: the first GTI Southeast Asia Expo, held at Kuala Lumpur’s World Trade Center from 22 to 24 April 2025.
Organised by Taiwan’s Game Time International, the expo extends the company’s established trade-show programme beyond the GTI Asia Taipei Expo and GTI Asia China Expo. Those two events have generally run concurrently since 2009, with the China edition regarded as one of the two major Chinese amusement-industry expos alongside May’s AAA Expo.
With amusement venues continuing to expand across Southeast Asia, including rapidly growing chains such as Timezone, a regional show gives manufacturers and operators a dedicated meeting point. The exhibitor mix also offered a useful preview of companies and products likely to appear at larger Chinese industry events.
On-site attendance was not possible for this report, so the coverage draws on material shared by GTI and participating companies, along with event photography and additional show coverage.
GTI Southeast Asia Expo in Kuala Lumpur
The official walkthrough stream shows an event spread across two relatively compact halls and a couple of floors. Rather than large, theatrical stands with major stages, exhibitors mainly used adjoining cubicle-style booths. GTI also hosted conferences with invited speakers on its own stage.
The show’s arcade-focused exhibitors were predominantly smaller or newer Asian companies. Major Chinese manufacturers such as Wahlap and UNIS were absent, likely reserving their newest announcements for the AAA Expo a few weeks later. Many of the businesses present were nevertheless expected to appear at that larger event.
3MindWave
Hong Kong-based 3MindWave, founded in 2017, presented Alpha Ops VR Strike. The company has developed a close working relationship with Sega Amusements and has also been associated with Wahlap, where some team members previously worked. Its other projects include ATV Slam, VR Agent and Apex Rebels.
The machine displayed the updated motion-base lighting design first shown at DEAL. Its marquee also appeared slightly revised, suggesting this may be close to the final production version, although further changes could occur before the game reaches Western markets. More information was expected when the title ships the following month.
3MindWave has previously shown a reduced VR Agent setup at the VR and XR-focused AWE EU. GTI Southeast Asia appears to have been its first major amusement expo appearance as an exhibitor in its own right.
Baohui
Baohui has roots stretching back to 1992 and frequently handles hardware and Chinese-market sales for IGS titles when Wahlap is not involved. Its relevant products include Speed Rider 3 and Hyper Cross, the latter also distributed in Western markets by Sega Amusements.
The standout display was a single-cabinet version of Hyper Cross. Previously seen as a twin unit, this version retains the motion base. If released in other markets, its single-player format could theoretically place it at around half the price of the twin configuration.
HY Technology
Chinese manufacturer HY is best known recently for the wrecking-ball redemption game Demolition King, which has performed particularly well in Europe. The company also appears connected with Sega Amusements: HY sells Chinese versions of Apex Rebels and Bop It! Arcade, while its Vigor Ball is known in Western markets as Ball Zania.
At Kuala Lumpur, HY displayed Bop It! Arcade and the whacker merchandiser Blocks Party, sold in the United States by Smart Industries as Knock ‘Em Blocks. HY also appears to have produced the compact Mini Pinball machine.
Joint Fun and Daka VR
Joint Fun began operating in China in 2018 and has had limited overseas visibility, although it first attracted attention at the previous year’s GTI Asia China show. Its growing catalogue includes Buggy Empire, a bug-themed take on Superwing’s Skywalk; Drum Pop, which resembles IGS’s earlier Percussion Master; and the unusual dual-screen racer Running Ostrich DX.
Running Ostrich DX had already appeared at other overseas regional events, including FEExpo in Italy and DEAL. Whether the company secures a major North American or European distributor remains unknown.
Joint Fun has also started publishing product footage on its official YouTube channel. The videos are not always high quality, but they provide the clearest available look at several games, including shooters that were not displayed at this expo.
The company’s VR division, Daka VR, occupied adjacent booth space. Its products included the VR bicycle racer Ace Rider, which appears to use the same bike models as Super Bikes 3, a VR adaptation of the ostrich-riding concept and the circus-themed motion shooter Nightmare.
Other exhibitors
Several companies with a stronger focus on redemption, cranes or other amusement equipment also attended.
Superwing did not have machines in its particularly small booth, but promoted newer projects including The Future, Marksman and Skywalk. The company’s earlier Ice Man helped popularise water-gun shooters in Western markets.
Raisefun presented Magic Sound, a rhythm game with an upright form reminiscent of Chunithm or Polaris Chord. Its controls appear to be touchscreen-based. A future appearance at IAAPA later in the year was possible, although not confirmed.
Japan was represented by Tokyo Dome and Nihon XR Center. The two organisations are working together on an original XR attraction for Tokyo Dome and appear interested in developing further projects.
Palm Fun has recently gained greater online visibility and representation from companies including Amusement Source International, while continuing to focus mainly on redemption equipment.
Another display appeared to be a renamed version of a Star Wars-style shooter previously seen at a Chinese trade show. Its new title, Stardiluo War, was visible at the event, although the manufacturer was not clear.
Yuto Games also attended and published video from the show. Crane-focused exhibitors such as Unique Anime and Neofuns were also present.
What the first expo suggests
The available material presents GTI Southeast Asia Expo as a credible first step rather than a fully expanded international mega-show. Compact booths suited a new event, while the concentration of emerging and lesser-known manufacturers gave it a distinct character.
A second edition could grow in scale, potentially move to another Southeast Asian location or be scheduled with greater distance from AAA Expo. For Australian operators and enthusiasts tracking new arcade hardware, the event is worth watching as regional amusement investment continues to develop.
For readers comparing home and commercial formats, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers key considerations, while our racing arcade and virtual pinball machine categories show how different cabinet styles suit different spaces.
The next major developments from several exhibitors may arrive at AAA Expo, where larger stands and a broader range of new products are expected.
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