Tag: Lost Soul Aside

September 1, 2025

Lost Soul Aside Faces Challenges in China Amid Dev Controversy

Key Takeaways

1. Controversial Remarks: A developer from UltiZero Games made unsettling comments about the game’s development and Sony’s control, causing friction within the team and the gaming community.

2. Racial Tensions: The developer’s remarks included racial slurs and suggested that Sony prioritizes Western gamers over local Chinese players, igniting backlash among Chinese gamers.

3. Poor Sales Performance: Lost Soul Aside is struggling with sales, reportedly selling only four copies during a livestream and peaking at around 3,000 players on Steam.

4. Performance Issues: The game has faced significant performance problems, resulting in mixed reviews, with criticisms about character development, writing, and voice acting.

5. PlayStation’s Investment in China: Despite the struggles of Lost Soul Aside, PlayStation remains committed to supporting Chinese game development through the China Hero Project, recognizing the potential in the region.

As a result of the PlayStation China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside brings attention to Chinese game creators. Sadly, the action RPG is facing a tough time with gamers both in the West and in its home market. Some controversial remarks from a past developer might shed light on why the first-party PS5 game is struggling.

Unsettling Messages

According to reports from Twisted Voxel, a team member from UltiZero Games, known as Vivian, shared troubling messages in an April 2024 private QQ chat. Vivian, who used to be an executive planner, claimed that Lost Soul Aside could “only be finished thanks of Yang Bing and me.” The game originally started as a solo project for Bing before Sony got involved.

Racial Tensions

Vivian expressed frustration with PlayStation’s control over the game. The situation was made worse by some racial comments that included a slur. This developer suggested that Sony favors gamers outside of China rather than focusing on local players. Although these comments didn’t get much attention in Western media, they stirred up strong reactions among Chinese gamers. Bing later refuted Vivian’s statements and apologized after confirming the dismissal of the employee.

Sales Struggles

It appears that the RPG has not managed to win back the support of players in China. Daniel Camilo remarked that only four copies of the PS5 game may have sold during a recent PlayStation China livestream. Furthermore, sales seem to be lagging in other areas too, as indicated by Steam player counts. Lost Soul Aside only reached about 3000 players at its peak, which is disappointing compared to other PlayStation PC ports.

Performance Issues

Before the launch date of Lost Soul Aside, early impressions pointed out major performance problems. These issues have continued, resulting in mixed reviews on Steam. While the developers are trying to enhance the visuals, frame rates aren’t the only issues. There are also complaints about weak character development and unsatisfying writing and voice acting.

PlayStation’s Commitment

Through the China Hero Project, PlayStation is deeply invested in the growth of Chinese game development. Even though Lost Soul Aside may not achieve the same level of success as Black Myth: Wukong, the company believes there is still a lot of untapped potential in the region.

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Tags: Lost Soul Aside
August 26, 2025

Lost Soul Aside Impressions: Performance Issues Before PS5 Reviews

Key Takeaways

1. Release Date and Lack of Previews: Lost Soul Aside is set to release on August 29th, but there are few hands-on previews available.

2. Early Impressions and Performance Issues: An early player reported that graphics mode often drops below 30 fps, leading to stutters and blurry visuals.

3. Improved Performance in Performance Mode: Switching to performance mode offers smoother gameplay targeting 60 fps, but texture quality remains inconsistent.

4. Positive Combat Experience: The combat system is noted as engaging and less repetitive than Final Fantasy XVI, with improvements seen after initial gameplay.

5. Development Background and Future Uncertainty: Originally a solo project by Yang Bing in 2014, its long development raises questions about readiness for release amidst the China Hero Project support.

Despite the release date of Lost Soul Aside being set for August 29th, there has been a noticeable lack of hands-on previews. Developed by Ultizero Games, this title is part of Sony’s China Hero Project, aiming to spotlight games from Chinese developers. TwistedVoxel has come across some early impressions that raise a few concerns.

Early Impressions from the Community

A user on the official subreddit for the first-party PS5 game managed to get an early copy. Although some were doubtful, Liamkun11 shared enough images and videos to sway opinions. In graphics mode, the frame rates frequently dip below 30 fps. There are noticeable stutters, and the visuals appear blurrier than what many had anticipated.

Performance Mode and Texture Quality

On the bright side, the gameplay becomes significantly smoother when switching to performance mode, which targets 60 fps. Nevertheless, Liamkun11 points out that the texture quality remains inconsistent across both modes. Additionally, the movement of the camera and the walking animations can come off as clumsy.

As this player spent additional time with Lost Soul Aside, his feelings about the game shifted to a more favorable view. Interestingly, performance seemed to get better after moving past the initial phases. The combat system stands out positively, with engaging battles that Liamkun11 describes as “less repetitive than Final Fantasy XVI.”

Development and Future Expectations

The action RPG started as a solo project by Yang Bing back in 2014. Sony recognized his work, integrating it into their mission to support Chinese developers. Even though it holds significance for the China Hero Project, many gamers are left wondering about the game as the release date draws near.

It remains uncertain whether the long development cycle was sufficient, and we might not know until reviews for Lost Soul Aside are released. The PS5 game, published by PlayStation, is also set to arrive on PCs on August 29th, with system requirements already shared. Features such as DLSS 4 upscaling and frame generation may help stabilize frame rates for both desktops and laptops.

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Tags: China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside, PlayStation 5