Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced a major expansion of its China Hero Project, committing investments valued at $1 million per selected game in the initiative’s fourth phase. The announcement came during a press conference in Shanghai on November 3, 2026, where Sony also confirmed additional funding for EXILEDGE and provided release updates for several upcoming PlayStation 5 titles.
The expanded initiative is designed to support Chinese game developers through funding, development assistance, publishing partnerships and international marketing. Sony also introduced two additional strategic partners, DENMU and Solutions 2 GO, to help participating studios bring their games to international audiences.
Under the fourth phase, each newly selected project will receive investment support valued at $1 million. Sony separately confirmed that EXILEDGE, a third-phase title already participating in the program, will receive an additional investment package worth $1 million to support its ongoing development.
EXILEDGE is a third-person shooter set on an apocalyptic planet, featuring combat encounters, dangerous environments and a story-driven campaign. Sony’s official China Hero Project website lists the game among its upcoming titles, with the newly announced investment intended to help accelerate development and improve production quality.
The funding announcement also accompanied updated release plans for DaBa: Land of Water Scar and another third-phase project, known in Chinese as Qianyu Xianjie.
DaBa: Land of Water Scar is scheduled to launch in spring 2027. Developed by Dark Star Games, the action-adventure game follows a humanoid puppet exploring a ruined ancient city while battling supernatural enemies. Its combat and exploration draw on the Soulslike genre, combining challenging encounters with a mysterious fantasy setting.
The spring 2027 window has been confirmed, although the developer has not announced a specific release date. The game is planned for PS5, with Sony’s China Hero Project providing development and promotional support.
Solutions 2 GO will assist with the distribution of DaBa: Land of Water Scar and Qianyu Xianjie, the latter of which is scheduled for release sometime in 2027. The partnership is intended to improve the international distribution capabilities available to participating Chinese developers.
DENMU, an investment company specializing in the games industry, will also contribute financial support, development assistance and marketing expertise. DaBa: Land of Water Scar is among its existing investments, making the project an early example of cooperation between DENMU and Sony’s initiative.
Sony’s November announcement does not establish that every previously selected China Hero Project game will receive another $1 million. The new investment commitment applies to fourth-phase selections, while EXILEDGE has been specifically confirmed as receiving additional funding from an earlier phase.
Sony also has several other games in development through the initiative, including Unending Dawn, an open-world multiplayer action game set in a world threatened by supernatural creatures. The project’s broader lineup includes The God Slayer and Loulan: The Cursed Sand, reflecting Sony’s continued support for Chinese developers working on different action and role-playing experiences.
The China Hero Project began in 2016 and has selected 19 Chinese games across its first three phases, with 11 titles released as of the latest announcement. Its portfolio includes Lost Soul Aside, AI Limit and F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch.
Sony’s investment strategy also comes shortly after the commercial success of Phantom Blade Zero, which surpassed four million copies sold within 72 hours of its October 2026 release. The action game also reached 833,921 concurrent players on Steam, demonstrating substantial demand for a Chinese-developed action title across PC and PlayStation platforms.
However, participation in the China Hero Project does not automatically make a game permanently exclusive to PlayStation. Sony provides development, publishing and marketing assistance, while platform availability and any exclusivity arrangements depend on the agreements established for individual titles. Some participating games are also released on PC.
With fourth-phase recruitment continuing, the initiative remains an important part of Sony’s efforts to support Chinese studios and expand the range of games available to PlayStation audiences worldwide.
