Chinese developer S-GAME opened preorders for Phantom Blade Zero on August 12, 2026, with the martial arts action RPG immediately reaching #1 on Steam’s global top-sellers chart, driven primarily by demand from China. The game will launch for PlayStation 5 and PC on October 29, 2026, priced at RMB 268 ($37) for the standard edition and RMB 328 ($46) for the digital deluxe edition. Preorders launched alongside an 11-minute trailer that generated approximately 8 million views on Bilibili within one day.
Why this matters: Sony is almost treating Phantom Blade Zero as a first party title with a dedicated State of Play presentation, making S-GAME the first Chinese developer to receive a standalone edition of PlayStation’s showcase, something that was typically for US and Japanese games previously. Phantom Blade Zero comes two years after Black Myth: Wukong put AAA Chinese single player games on the map, although we do not expect the game to be as popular globally.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
Niko Partners to speak at LA Games Conference
The LA Games Conference returns September 30 at the UCLA Palisades Ballroom, bringing together leaders from across the games industry for a one-day summit focused on the issues shaping the business. The conference features two key tracks: Business & Finance (Investment, publishing, and growth strategies) and Legal, Policy & Regulation (IP, compliance, and the evolving regulatory landscape).
Niko Partners CEO Lisa Hanson will share insights on what the games business could look like in 2030. Interested to learn more? Sign up here and use code NikoPartners20 for 20% off.
Unlock new opportunities from Southeast Asia’s most populous video games market
Did you know that Indonesia has the largest gaming audience in Southeast Asia, with more than 126 million gamers? The market is also set for strong revenue growth, with player spending expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2030, alongside continued growth in Thailand and the Philippines. Increasing smartphone ownership and internet penetration are one of the reasons behind the rising number of new players in high-population markets.
Learn more about Southeast Asia’s emerging video game market in Niko Partners’ SEA Player Behavior & Market Insights Reports here.
Inaugural Esports Nations Cup delayed a whole year to November 2027
The Esports Foundation (EF) announced via a press release that the first Esports Nations Cup (ENC), which was originally scheduled to take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to November 2027. This is mainly due to the ongoing regional conflicts that have wrought instability and uncertainty in the middle east. The EF also shared that all existing ENC commitments, development funds and sponsorship deals will remain in place, as they will work with all partners and nations to mitigate any costs, and to rework qualifications to fit this postponement.
Why this matters: The decision to postpone this event comes as a slight shock given the Esports World Cup 2026 was instead relocated to Paris. Although it’s worth noting that the EWC was already an established event and had already looked into moving the event outside of the country prior. Saudi Arabia is perhaps hoping that an esports event with national pride on the line would bring in more tourism and attention than the Esports World Cup, much as the FIFA World Cup gets more attention than the Champions League, and as such are unwilling to compromise with the ENC.
The Pokemon Company selects Singapore as a major hub for its 30th anniversary celebrations
The Pokemon Company has announced a major 30th anniversary celebration in Singapore, partnering with Changi Airport, Jewel Changi Airport, and The Kallang to host a series of events and fan activities on November 7-8, 2026. Shopping promotions and themed activities will also run from November 2026 into early 2027 and Pokemon GO will feature a regional in-game experience tied to the anniversary celebrations.
Why this matters: The Pokemon Company’s decision to anchor its 30th Anniversary celebrations in Singapore highlights the country’s growing importance as a consumer market and regional hub for gaming and entertainment brands. The scale of these activations demonstrates how major IP holders are increasingly using Southeast Asian markets to drive fan engagement, merchandise sales, and broader ecosystem growth.
Game Science won’t use AIGC for creative content in Black Myth: Zhong Kui
Game Science cofounder and Black Myth series art director Yang Qi has confirmed that the studio will avoid generative AI tools during the design and game asset production stages of Black Myth: Zhong Kui, instead relying on traditional human led development. He clarified that the studio is not opposed to AI technology, but has deliberately chosen to keep AIGC away from the project’s core creative processes at its current stage.
Why this matters: The decision is particularly notable given the rapid adoption of generative AI across China’s games industry. CADPA reported at ChinaJoy 2026 that approximately 86% of Chinese game developers are now using AI technologies in some capacity, while major companies are increasingly integrating generative AI directly into development pipelines. Niko Partners research shows that players of AAA premium games tend to be more vocal about poor uses of AI in video games, while mobile players are more accepting.
AI only delivers the tip of the iceberg. Niko delivers the depth and context you need with local expertise, global perspective.
Tencent announces PUBG Mobile Light to expand PUBG Mobile player base
Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios has revealed PUBG Mobile Light, a new version of PUBG Mobile designed to reduce hardware and storage requirements while retaining the core experience of the standard game. The new version will include Erangel and the same core combat experience, while existing players can transfer their items, outfits, and other cosmetics by signing into their PUBG Mobile account.
Why this matters: Light versions of mobile games are not new, and Tencent previously released a version of PUBG Mobile Lite years ago. Unlike the existing PUBG Mobile Lite, which achieves lower hardware requirements by reducing content and features, PUBG Mobile Light is intended to offer the same experience as the core game but with a lower device footprint. This approach reduces the risk of fragmenting PUBG Mobile‘s player base.
Shining Nikki returns to China’s iOS game revenue top 10 chart thanks to 7th anniversary
Papergames’ Shining Nikki returned to the top 10 of China’s iOS game revenue chart following the launch of its seventh anniversary update on August 5, 2026, demonstrating continued spending engagement for a title that has now operated for seven years. The anniversary campaign combined new in-game content with physical exhibitions and player creation initiatives. Its seventh anniversary CGI video also surpassed 4 million views on Bilibili, becoming the game’s most viewed video since launch.
Why this matters: The performance is particularly notable amid the ongoing Love and Deepspace controversy, which has disrupted another of Papergames’ major female oriented titles. While the two products serve different audiences and operate independently, Shining Nikki‘s anniversary performance demonstrates the continuing strength of Papergames’ broader portfolio. We also note that game anniversary celebrations in China are increasingly combining in-game and offline elements to engage the entire player base.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
Xsolla expands local payment options across Asia Pacific and other markets
Global video game commerce company Xsolla announced the addition of more than15 new payment methods to Xsolla Payments ahead of Gamescom 2026, with the new additions include markets across Asia and Oceania, EMEA, and the Americas. New additions include Mandiri in Indonesia, ShopeePay in the Philippines, Line Pay in Chinese Taipei, Octopus in Hong Kong, 7/11 (Konbini) in Japan, and Zip Co in Australia.
Why this matters: Expanding localized payment support remains a key strategy for increasing game spending conversion, particularly in emerging Asian markets where players prefer domestic payment methods. The expansion is intended to help developers and publishers offer payment options that align with player preferences across different regions.
Events
LA Games Conference
September 30-October 1, 2026
Los Angeles, USA
Speaker: Lisa Hanson
Attendee: Alexander Champlin
Use code NikoPartners20 for 20% off
Contact us to set up a meeting →
