This week on Inside the China Room with Jiang Jiang, I’m joined by Jianlin Zhong — a Shanghai-based investor and lifelong AAA gamer — to unpack the rise of Chinese AAA games and how titles like Black Myth: Wukong and WuChang: Fallen Feathers are reshaping global perceptions of China’s game industry.
Set in a dark fantasy world at the end of the Ming Dynasty, WuChang: Fallen Feathers is China’s latest Souls-like title. It topped Steam’s China preorder chart earlier this year and officially launched worldwide on July 24. But beyond gameplay, it’s part of a growing wave of single-player Chinese blockbusters aiming for global reach — a trend that began with the buzz around Black Myth: Wukong.
In this episode, Jianlin and I share our first impressions of Wuchang, explore its cultural depth, and discuss how Chinese studios are making their mark — not just at home, but globally. We also dive into the business side: how Jianlin evaluates studios and what the future might hold for China's AAA game scene.
Games we touch on
Doom · Dark Souls: Remastered · Cyberpunk 2077 · Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice · Elden Ring · Phantom Blade Zero · God of War · Death Stranding · It Takes Two · Outer Wilds · Kingdom Rush
Highlights
04:35 - Why China’s recent AAA surge matters to gamers like Jianlin
06:02 - First impressions of the new release Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
11:59 - Black Myth: Wukong — trailblazer for Chinese AAA titles
16:18 - Have Chinese AAA games caught up with classics like Sekiro and Elden Ring?
21:12 - How Chinese-themed AAA games engage players and even boost local tourism
26:13 - Jianlin’s philosophy for investing in game studios
31:40 - The next frontier for Chinese AAA titles going global
36:44 - Recommendations
About Jianlin Zhong
Jianlin has been in the banking and investment industry for over 10 years. He began his career at J.P. Morgan as an investment banking analyst, then moved to a major APAC-focused private equity firm. In 2024, he founded his own investment management business, making large stake private investment, including buyouts, in fast growing niche industry leaders. He focuses on new materials, data, and software segments that align with his investment thesis.
Official trailer of WuChang: Fallen Feathers
Recommendations
Jianlin: Outer Wilds, a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive.
JJ: Kingdom Rush, a 2011 tower defense game developed by Ironhide Game Studio and published by Armor Games.
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