Is AAA new IP now being led by Chinese studios?

Last year, Black Myth: Wukong took the world by storm, earning Game of the Year nominations and selling millions of copies—proving that eastern studios are no longer just contributors but contenders in the AAA game space. But this is only the beginning.

While western studios are leaning on sequels, remasters, and expansions to mitigate risk in a challenging economic environment, eastern developers are stepping up with bold, imaginative, and entirely new IPs. They're redefining what AAA gaming can look like and tapping into fresh genres and settings that feel both innovative and culturally distinct.

Here are a few upcoming titles I am watching and betting on:

🎨 Project: The Perceiver

A stunning open-world action RPG that explores the philosophical tension between ideals and reality. With a combat system reminiscent of Sekiro and an artistic flair that’s uniquely its own, this game promises a deep and engaging experience.

⚔️ Phantom Blade: Zero

This dark fantasy action RPG combines fast-paced, visceral combat with a rich, wuxia-inspired narrative. I frickign love its "Kung-Fu punk" aesthetic that is a bold new blend of tradition and futurism.

🌾 Where Winds Meet

Set in the Ten Kingdoms era of ancient China, this game offers a breathtaking open world full of dynamic events, martial arts combat, and RPG elements. Think Ghost of Tsushima but with a distinctly Chinese flavor and historical depth.

🦅 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

A gritty action RPG set in a fictionalized Ming Dynasty. With its focus on folklore and supernatural elements, the game merges challenging combat with rich storytelling in a way that feels both fresh and familiar.

🔮 Lost Soul Aside

An indie success story turned AAA production, this game blends high-octane action combat with jaw-dropping visuals. It’s a testament to what small teams with big ambitions can achieve in the eastern development scene.

What makes these games particularly exciting is their ability to tap into eastern fantasy, a genre still relatively unexplored in the West. This allows them to stand out in a market saturated with familiar tropes. Moreover, the economic climate has enabled these studios to build world-class teams with costs that are a fraction of those in the West.

AAA in the east is no longer the exclusive domain of Japanese studios. Thank you From Software for the path you have paved with the Souls games!

The next few years could mark a turning point in where the most exciting new AAA IPs come from. If titles like these deliver on their promises, we may be looking at a permanent shift in the balance of creative power in the gaming industry.

What do you think about this trend? Are there other games from the East you’re excited about?