Initially unintentionally, game director Liang from “Soulframe” began his professional journey by creating free RPG games using RPG Maker software and distributing them online. Fast forward two decades, he’s now working on one of the most anticipated games in China – the action-packed martial arts title Phantom Blade Zero, known as a “kungfupunk” game. I recently traveled to Beijing for a brief encounter with this game and was particularly captivated by its stunning kung fu animation sequences and its unique approach to difficulty, which prioritizes style over the harshness found in Soulslike games.
Instead, it’s striking to see that Liang’s approach to game creation has managed to stay intact amidst the rapid expansion to large-scale, high-budget game development, avoiding the jargon often associated with executive corporate speak.
Ever since Black Myth: Wukong, there’s been a growing interest in Chinese-developed AAA action games or large-scale titles in China. Many such games are on the horizon. This is unique because big AAA games, which are common among Americans (think GTA and similar games), aren’t entirely new concepts. However, it’s worth noting that there are numerous gamers in China who are not familiar with the button icons on a PlayStation or Xbox controller.
In China alone, there are over 500 million mobile gamers, yet for Liang, the platform served as a stepping stone to realize his own aspirations.
The culmination we had envisioned was always this game, but it seemed almost unreachable a decade, even fifteen years back. Just five years ago, its clarity wasn’t yet apparent, that is until the first trailer for Black Myth: Wukong instilled in us all the conviction to press onward.
Previously, we only developed mobile games,” he continued. “Those mobile games were indeed fun. However, I believe the side-scrolling, kung fu-themed games with impressive movements and abilities were not entirely sufficient to convey my vision for creating the Phantom universe. While I’m proud of our past achievements, they don’t fully encapsulate my aspirations.
In simple terms, the pitch was quite typical when discussing a shift from mobile to computer programming, but he added an interesting twist of depth to it.
Though Chinese people tend to prefer larger video games, this doesn’t automatically imply that we believe bigger games are superior. Good games are universally appreciated. The size of a game isn’t what makes it good. I continue to appreciate the games from the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 era, which were not expansive in terms of size but were undeniably good.
As a gamer myself, I can say that what makes games great is their professionalism. They are crafted by genuine creators who understand the gaming community and its preferences. If these creators are seasoned gamers themselves, have steady hands to handle all aspects of development, and bring innovative ideas to the table, that’s truly the key. Whether they create small or large games, or any type of game for that matter, I believe their authenticity is what sets the quality apart, not necessarily the scale of the project.
In my experience, I’ve talked with numerous game developers, including PC Gamer, and it seems that this statement might feel old-fashioned or expected. However, upon revisiting it, I find myself wanting to cheer a bit, to whisper ‘awesome!’ It carries a hint of rebelliousness when it comes from CEOs like Liang or Larian CEO Swen Vincke, who used Baldur’s Gate 3’s Game Awards win to challenge practices such as “artificial sales targets,” layoffs, and “viewing players as commodities to exploit” as negative aspects of the gaming industry.
Liang didn’t undermine the importance of scale; instead, he emphasized that if a game has strong foundations, like Elden Ring, then expanding can sustain the thrill. However, in 2025, we often encounter open worlds that are stretched thin to meet some arbitrary size, and games that extend their playtime to achieve some predetermined length. I have a feeling that Phantom Blade Zero will manage to steer clear of these issues, making it more effective as a result.
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2025-07-29 19:47