In July 2016, Yang Bing, an independent developer from China, unveiled a trailer for his ambitious project titled Lost Soul Aside. Despite having worked on it for two years, the game was initially nothing more than a proof of concept. The trailer gained remarkable traction on YouTube, which resulted in executives from Sony Interactive Entertainment taking notice. By March 2017, it was officially announced that Lost Soul Aside would receive funding and support through the PlayStation China Hero Project, an initiative aimed at empowering independent Chinese game developers.
Over the ensuing years, Lost Soul Aside made several appearances at various PlayStation events, yet a definitive release date remained elusive. To accelerate development, Yang Bing expanded his team and founded Ultizero Games, a new studio composed of Chinese developers. Unfortunately, the project faced multiple delays, leading to a shift from its original 2020 release window. However, during the recent February PlayStation State of Play, a May 2025 release date was announced for both PS5 and PC. Nearly a decade has passed since the game’s introduction, and the rise of competitors in the Chinese AAA market has intensified the pressure on its success.
Black Myth: Wukong Raises the Standard for Lost Soul Aside
Increasing Presence of AAA Chinese Games on Consoles
Historically, despite China being one of the largest markets in the video game industry, it has struggled to establish a strong foothold in console gaming. Following a ban on video game consoles enacted in 2000, many Chinese studios focused primarily on mobile and free-to-play PC games. This landscape began to shift dramatically in 2015, when the Chinese government lifted the ban, leading to an explosion of new developments in both mobile and console games. Consequently, an increasing number of studios are stepping into the console market.
Success Story: Black Myth: Wukong
A standout example of a successful AAA console title from China is Black Myth: Wukong. This adaptation of the classic tale Journey to the West launched early last year for PlayStation 5 and PC, later expected to expand to Xbox. It sold an astonishing 20 million copies within its first month and boasted over 2 million concurrent players on Steam during launch. Remarkably, the studio behind it, Game Science, had primarily focused on mobile game development prior to this project. The success of Black Myth: Wukong was not only impressive but also set a new benchmark for Chinese game developers.
While Lost Soul Aside began its journey earlier than Black Myth: Wukong, it bears similarities to the latter, both being third-person action RPGs featuring innovative shape-shifting mechanics and developed by studios with no prior AAA experience. Moreover, both projects are exclusively available on PlayStation and Windows PCs at their launch.
The Future of Chinese Developers in the AAA RPG Market
Given the parallels between these two titles, Lost Soul Aside has the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum generated by Black Myth: Wukong. If it succeeds and delivers on its promise, it could potentially sell millions of copies and further solidify the presence of Chinese developers in the AAA action RPG market. It is crucial for both Sony and Ultizero Games to ensure a seamless launch for Lost Soul Aside, as a successful debut could significantly impact PlayStation 5 sales in China.
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