Chinese game companies are strengthening their global market strategy by introducing large-scale projects with substantial capital and manpower led by Triple-A games. In the past, Chinese game companies focused mainly on mobile games, but they are now gaining competitiveness in the console and PC markets, eyeing the Western market as well. The Korean gaming industry is also challenging the Triple-A market, but there are analyses indicating that aggressive investment and frequent outputs are not occurring as they do in China.
◇ “From Jin Yong to King Arthur”... Originality and perfection have both increased.
According to the game industry on the 24th, China has continued its aggressive steps following 'Black Myth: OKONG'. ▲S-GAME's 'Phantom Blade Zero' ▲Eclipse Glow Games' 'TIDE of Annihilation' ▲NetEase's 'Jade Dynasty' ▲Linzi Games in China developing 'Ming Dynasty: Feather of the Void' and CreateAI (formerly TuSimple) Studio's 'Jin Yong's Alliance' are all large projects targeting console and PC platforms.
HoYoverse, known for 'Genshin Impact', is also reportedly developing a Triple-A game based on Unreal Engine, emphasizing hyper-realistic graphics and moving away from its existing subculture style, indicating that the Chinese gaming industry is working to solidify its position in the console and PC markets.
Triple-A games from Chinese companies are showcasing distinct personalities and attempting to differentiate themselves. 'Phantom Blade Zero' is a semi-open world action RPG defined by high-speed sword fighting action inspired by Hong Kong martial arts films, set to be released on PS5 and PC. The recently released gameplay video features a unique steampunk and KITA world view.
'TIDE of Annihilation' is a modern reinterpretation of the Arthurian legend, where players summon the Knights of the Round Table to engage in battles. It has garnered attention as the most highlighted game in the recent showcase since its reveal at Sony's State of Play.
'Jade Dynasty' is an open-world KITA action RPG set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era, showcasing a combat system that combines traditional martial arts with superpowers. 'Ming Dynasty: Feather of the Void' is a souls-like action RPG set against the backdrop of the late Ming Dynasty, dealing with a story of battles against creatures created by faction disputes and mysterious diseases, emphasizing exploration and survival elements. 'Jin Yong's Alliance' is an open-world KITA RPG based on the novels of famous Chinese martial arts author Jin Yong, allowing players to experience realistic graphics and various martial arts from the original work.
At the center of the Chinese gaming industry is 'Black Myth: OKONG'. Developed by Game Science, this game recorded 2.4 million concurrent users on Steam immediately after its release last year, ranking second all-time, and surpassed 20 million in global cumulative sales within a month. It won three awards, including 'Game of the Year (GOTY)' at the Steam Awards and also received GOTY at the Golden Joystick Awards. At The Game Awards 2024, it was recognized with awards for Best Action Game and Players' Voice, marking a significant uplift in the status of the Chinese gaming industry beyond mere commercial success.
◇ “Korean gaming industry lacks investment scale for Triple-A games.”
The Korean gaming industry is also developing games targeting the Triple-A market, but there remains a considerable gap when compared to the speed at which Chinese companies are dominating the market with their continuous announcements of large-scale projects. However, the atmosphere is preparing for a counterattack as SHIFT UP and NEOWIZ are paving the way for domestically developed Triple-A games.
'Stella Blade', released exclusively for PS5 by SHIFT UP last year, proved the potential for domestically developed Triple-A games with its global success. They are also developing the next title 'Project Witches' aiming for a release after 2027. NEOWIZ's 'Lies of P' has sold over 2 million copies and established its presence in the souls-like genre. With the upcoming DLC release for 'Lies of P' and NEOWIZ's Round8 Studios developing a 'SF survival horror new title', expectations are high.
Nexon is continuing its market strategy by launching the Triple-A title 'First Berserker: Kazhan' (hereafter 'Kazhan') on the 28th of next month, following the global success of 'The First Descendant' last year. 'Kazhan' received positive reactions from domestic and overseas users at 'G-Star 2024' last year and is under development with a goal of higher completion. 'Crimson Desert', set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, is also considered one of the most anticipated global titles.
However, there are criticisms that there is still a disparity in scale and speed compared to Chinese companies expanding their influence in the Triple-A market by continuously announcing large-scale projects. While Chinese game companies invest budgets in the billions of won, South Korea remains focused on mobile-centered strategies, with challenges primarily led by small development teams, widening the competitive gap.
A game industry official noted, “In the past, Chinese games were seen as one step below Korean games, but now they have grown to a level comparable or even superior in some areas, such as technology, graphics, and gameplay,” and added, “Korean game companies must expand large-scale projects aimed at the console and PC markets, moving away from the standard mass-produced mobile games to be competitive in the global market.”