Key Takeaways
1. Challenges in Development: The Loongforce studio faces significant obstacles in developing the cooperative shooter Convallaria, which was selected by PlayStation for its China Hero Project in 2018.
2. Communication and Funding Issues: Loongforce reported delays in payments and poor communication from Sony, which have hindered the game’s progress, particularly under the leadership of Bao Bo since 2022.
3. Ultimatum from Sony: In mid-2025, Loongforce received an ultimatum from Bao Bo to either transfer full control of the game’s development to the SIE Global Team or risk the game’s cancellation.
4. Lack of Marketing: Convallaria has been excluded from promotional efforts for the China Hero Project, raising concerns about its future as other Chinese titles received attention instead.
5. Unresolved Allegations: PlayStation has not addressed the serious allegations from Loongforce, and concerns about the overall success of its collaborations in China continue to grow.
PlayStation has increased its efforts in the development of PS5 games in an expanding market. However, its China Hero Project has encountered various challenges. The most recent issue involves the cooperative shooter, Convallaria, where the Loongforce studio claims that Sony has hindered its progress at multiple stages.
Concerns from Loongforce
Loongforce reached out to MP1st to clarify the slow development of Convallaria. PlayStation chose the game for its Chinese project back in 2018. Since then, friction has developed between the studio and PlayStation. With uncertainty surrounding the title’s future, there are accusations of delayed payments, ineffective communication, and a push for takeover.
Escalation in Issues
Problems reportedly intensified in 2022 after Bao Bo, Director of Game Production for SIE China, took charge of the PS5 game. The developers argue that vital funding from Sony was often late. Simultaneously, they were compelled to allocate funds for “IT security restructuring.”
In mid-2025, the situation peaked when Bao Bo presented an ultimatum to Loongforce. They had to either relinquish complete control of the game’s development to the SIE Global Team or face the possibility of the PS5 title never launching. Emails sent to Mp1st and earlier to Noisy Pixel confirm these claims.
Marketing Absence
Convallaria has been notably absent from promotional efforts for the China Hero Project. The studio had anticipated the game would be featured in a video released in February 2025. Regrettably, every other Chinese title in development appeared in the advertisement, leaving out the multiplayer shooter.
Loongforce is now burdened by significant debt but continues to pursue a solution with Sony. Nevertheless, it seems PlayStation may have already moved on, as a recent update on the official China Hero Project website did not mention Convallaria.
Unanswered Questions
Followers should remain cautious, as PlayStation has not yet addressed the serious allegations. In an email, Bao Bo mentioned that the game did not pass evaluations from several business divisions. Still, the issues surrounding Lost Soul Aside have already raised concerns about Sony’s collaborations in China. Critics suggest that the failures of the project outweigh its success stories, such as Ai Limit.
Sources include Mp1st, Noisy Pixel, the Convallaria announcement trailer, the PlayStation China 10th anniversary video, and the PlayStation China Hero Project website.
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