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China Hero Project
February 22, 2026 at 04:34 PM
Comprehensive article on Sony's China Hero Project and The God Slayer's involvement
The China Hero Project is an initiative by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) launched in 2016 to discover, mentor, and support game developers in China. Managed by SIE Shanghai, the program provides participating studios with development support, marketing assistance, and publishing resources. The God Slayer was announced as part of the program's Phase 3 at ChinaJoy in July 2023, marking Pathea Games' entry into Sony's development incubator.
The China Hero Project operates in phases, each selecting a new batch of Chinese development studios for support. Sony provides participating teams with a service package worth over 1 million yuan (approximately $140,000 USD), along with mentorship, technical guidance, and access to PlayStation development resources. The program's goal is to cultivate Chinese game development talent and bring Chinese-developed titles to global audiences through the PlayStation platform.
Across all phases, the program has selected 19 games total. Of those, 10 have been released and 9 remain in development as of early 2026.
Phase 3 titles were announced in three waves between 2023 and 2024:
May 2023 (Sony Expo): Exiledge, Awaken: Astral Blade, Will-less
July 2023 (ChinaJoy): The God Slayer, The Winds Rising, Daba: Land of Water Scar
July 2024 (ChinaJoy): Unending Dawn, Kroraina (Loulan), Project: Jinyiwei (Brocade-Clad Guard)
The God Slayer initially appeared to be a PS5 exclusive when announced at ChinaJoy in July 2023. The assumption was reasonable: China Hero Project titles have historically launched on PlayStation first, and some have remained exclusive to the platform.
In December 2025, The God Slayer was re-revealed with both a CG trailer and a seven-minute gameplay demonstration. The re-reveal confirmed the game for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). This multi-platform approach is unusual for a China Hero Project title. Push Square, a PlayStation-focused outlet, noted that the game was being "handled a little differently" compared to other CHP entries.
The developers declined to comment on whether there would be any timed PS5 exclusivity. Some platform databases (such as Push Square) list PM Studios as the publisher, though the Steam store page credits Pathea Games as both developer and publisher. Sony provides development support through the China Hero Project. The exact nature of the publishing arrangements remains undisclosed.
Previous phases of the China Hero Project have produced several released titles that provide context for the program's scope and quality:
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch: a Metroidvania-style action game set in a diesel-punk world populated by animal characters. One of the program's most commercially successful graduates
Hardcore Mecha: a 2D side-scrolling mech action game
Lost Soul Aside: an action RPG that drew attention for being initially developed by a single person
Convallaria: a tactical RPG with branching narratives
Anno: Mutationem: a cyberpunk action-adventure with 2D and 3D gameplay segments
Sony's involvement with The God Slayer goes beyond financial support. The China Hero Project provides "game development support, marketing, and publishing" according to program descriptions. For Pathea Games, a studio of approximately 160 employees best known for cozy life simulation games, access to Sony's development expertise and marketing infrastructure for a large-scale action RPG is a substantial resource. The program's mentorship component may be particularly relevant given Pathea's genre shift from the My Time series to a mature, combat-focused open-world game.
Being part of the China Hero Project provides The God Slayer with visibility and credibility that an independent release from a mid-sized Chinese studio might not achieve on its own. The program's track record of releasing polished, commercially viable games sets expectations for quality. At the same time, the multi-platform release strategy suggests that Pathea and PM Studios are positioning the game for the broadest possible audience rather than relying on PlayStation ecosystem advantages alone.
