Digital Play, Traditional Heritage: University-Led Initiatives by Students and Faculty to Preserve ASEAN Indigenous Games in the E-Gaming Era

Abstract

Southeast Asia’s rapid shift toward digital play risks eroding indigenous games that historically transmit community knowledge, values, and intergenerational bonds. This study examines university-led initiatives that digitize ASEAN indigenous games through mobile applications, AR/VR experiences, and open repositories. Using a convergent mixed-methods design across 10 projects in 5 countries, we integrate interviews with faculty, students, and cultural bearers, digital ethnography, and platform analytics. Results show that (a) fidelity to indigenous rule-logics combined with optional difficulty scaffolds improves sustained engagement; (b) co-governance with community partners enhances perceived authenticity and share rates; and (c) embedding builds within coursework supports iterative updates and long-term maintenance. Interpreted through cultural sustainability, digital anthropology, and heritage studies, digitization functions as living heritage rather than static archiving. The projects align with the UNESCO 2003 Convention by prioritizing viability and transmission, and with ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community priorities on cultural diversity and digital inclusion. We propose a university–community–policy model for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through ethical design, participatory governance, and interoperable assets. The findings position higher education institutions as mediators between tradition and innovation, ensuring that indigenous play remains accessible, meaningful, and resilient in the e-gaming era.