With the trend of open-world gameplays like Genshin Impact, a question that local gamers tend to ask is “What is the reason Indonesian developers did not make any games of that quality?”
This question is openly and perceptively addressed in a video on the local gaming industry by one of its practitioners and observers, Lucky Putra Dharmawan. It is not as straightforward as the reason is: because they cannot. The actual issue is the scarce resources in Indonesia to develop a game.
Large Capital, Initial Challenges
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In addition to capital, Lucky highlights the weak gaming industry infrastructure in Indonesia. Many studios operate independently without access to professional training, supportive regulations, or adequate production facilities.
Investors in Indonesia also have yet to fully grasp the potential of the gaming industry. They remain hesitant, viewing games as mere entertainment rather than a serious business venture. Meanwhile, other countries see gaming as a key creative industry of the future. With regulatory support, education, and research funding, they can produce games like Genshin Impact, Elden Ring, or Cyberpunk 2077.
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Great Games Are Not Just About Visuals
Games like Genshin Impact are not only impressive in terms of visuals. They are the product of large teams, with hundreds of employees, hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, and years of production time. Lucky emphasizes that Indonesian game developers do not yet have such resources.
Most local studios are still small-scale. They are indie studios with minimal teams and limited capital. There are no major investors, no global publishers, and no supporting ecosystem like those in China, Japan, or Europe. This is the main reason why Indonesian games cannot yet compete at the AAA level.
Idealism vs Reality
Lucky also criticized the mindset of some novice developers who are too eager to “go big right away.” He pointed out that there are many small studios that want to immediately create AAA games, but forget that the process of building a game studio is gradual. Even companies like miHoYo built their reputation from smaller projects first before releasing Genshin Impact.
Instead of following major trends, Lucky encourages Indonesian developers to create games that are relevant to their capabilities but still have a unique twist, such as a local storytelling approach, distinctive visual style, or innovative gameplay.
There is Hope, But It Will Take Time and Strategy
At the end of the discussion, Lucky emphasized that Indonesia has a lot of potential talent. Many young people are skilled in programming, art, and game design. Some of them are even involved in international projects. However, talent alone is not enough; it needs to be supported by systems, collaboration, and the courage to build their own identity.
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Don’t Copy Genshin, Build Your Own Identity
The question “Why aren’t there any Indonesian games on par with Genshin Impact?” should be rephrased as:
“What kind of games can only be made by Indonesians?”
Lucky Putra Dharmawan’s perspective opens our eyes to the fact that building a gaming industry is not about imitating the success of others, but recognizing one’s own potential and building on it with realistic strategies. Indonesia is not there yet, but that doesn’t mean it never will be.
References
indonesia bisa bikin game kayak genshin impact?