- IDC data shows leading share across infrastructure and solutions segments
- AI-driven game development seen as new growth driver for cloud demand
Alibaba Cloud held the largest share of China’s game cloud market in the second half of 2025, marking its fifth consecutive year in the top position, an IDC survey shows.
According to data released by the market consultancy on April 15, the company led both the infrastructure and solutions segments, with market shares of 39% and 42%, respectively.
Its solutions business expanded 23% over the period, outpacing the broader market as demand for data and AI-driven tools increased.
China’s game cloud market reached $1.1 billion in the second half of 2025, up 16% year-on-year, with growth accelerating from earlier in the year, IDC said.
Analysts point to a shift in how developers are building games, with AI increasingly embedded in gameplay and production workflows.
“Some studios are experimenting with AI-generated characters and dynamic worlds, while others are exploring titles created partly or entirely by AI agents, expanding demand for scalable cloud infrastructure,” IDC China research manager Wei Yunfeng said.
Alibaba Cloud has positioned itself to support such workloads through computing, container and data services designed for high concurrency and real-time processing.
The company said its platform enables rapid scaling for game servers and supports high-frequency interactions through low-latency networking, a key requirement for multiplayer and combat-heavy titles.
Major game developers including miHoYo, NetEase and 37 Interactive Entertainment are among those using Alibaba Cloud to serve global player bases.
