Next Big Hitters from China Are Here!

The pipeline for AAA Chinese games is becoming more visible, as release dates are approaching for several promising titles.

Shown at the latest Xbox Partner Preview Event, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is one of the next big Chinese console/PC action games to follow after Black Myth: Wukong.

Together with Phantom Blade Zero, these are, currently, the two biggest high-profile Chinese blockbusters expected to make a considerable splash worldwide. Lost Soul Aside could also be included in this select group, arguably.

There will be more of course, as this is now an ongoing train with no final destination in sight. Several other games have been shown and announced in recent months, and more will follow.

Phantom Blade Zero remains the most hyped of these two titles, and remains as a PS5 exclusive on consoles (also coming to PC). Wuchang on the other hand is totally multiplatform (Xbox Series, PC, PS5).

While Wuchang will be available on more platforms, I predict Phantom Blade will sell considerably more, and also get better reviews (this is a prediction). Why? Personally, Wuchang to me feels more like a AA game than a AAA one. I mean this in the best way possible, as we need more high-quality AA in the industry!* However, Phantom Blade Zero appears to be more polished and just…better. It got great reactions from its showing at Gamescom as well.

It's perhaps unfair to put the two games side by side, as Wuchang is admittedly a souls-like, while Phantom is more of a hack'n'slash fast paced action game à la Ninja Gaiden.

Same Samey?

There’s a risk of stagnation and lack of differentiation, as many of these AAA Chinese titles share “that look” between them. Even if not falling exactly within the same genres, a lot of these titles have that very high-fidelity UE5 look (aka, great graphics!) mixed in with an art-style that, while fantastical in themes, has a very realistic look and more often than not based on Chinese mythology. Generally.

I could talk more extensively about several other games, such as Faith of Danschant: Hereafter, but we’re just looking at the first wave of AAA Chinese exports now. Some of these have been in development for years (Wuchang since at least 2021). It shouldn’t be assumed they are a result or reaction to Black Myth’s success. They’re not!
It isn’t that strange that this “first wave” includes so many games based on Chinese mythology and folklore. That is a cornerstone of Chinese popular culture, ever-present in the country in virtually all forms of art expression. Developers “needed to let that out” to begin with.

But what comes next?

This is where the magic of videogames will come into play and we will really see the full potential of Chinese developers in the future. To avoid the thematic stagnation (and of genre too, as most are some variation of third-person action slasher RPGs), I believe studios will be pushed to be more disruptive and come up with more creative and original concepts to further their business and expansion. We can only imagine what incredible experiences we’ll get soon…(not to say the ones we are getting now arent good. I loved Wukong!)

As a final note...while we'll continue to see more and more quality console/PC games coming out from Chinese studios into the world, it's worth understanding that mobile overwhelmingly remains the biggest portion of the Chinese gaming market, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. There is no realistic scenario where the console and PC user-base in China outgrows the well-established and matured mobile audience. Mobile will remain bigger both in audience, and revenue.

*Yes, I realize mentioning "AAA/AA" can be sort of an abstract qualifier...but if you know, you know.