Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a game that may not be widely recognized, despite its debut three years ago in 2020 during the onset of the COVID crisis. It represents China’s effort to showcase its capabilities to the Western market by demonstrating that the country aims to move beyond being merely an outsourcing partner for Western studios. Frustrated with producing large quantities of assets for AAA titles without proper recognition, these Chinese studios are seeking to prove their ability to compete in terms of quality. Games such as Black Myth Wu Kong, set for release in August, Phantom Blade Zero available at the Summer Game Fest, Where Winds Meet, Lost Soul Aside, The Perceiver, and now Wuchang: Fallen Feathers securing a prominent spot in a console manufacturer’s conference indicate a promising future for Chinese video games.
One cannot help but feel excited about the upcoming gameplay revealed in this trailer for a new Souls-like game, where parrying and understanding enemy patterns are central to the experience. The game incorporates many elements of the Dark Souls genre while introducing a distinctive feature: the main character is suffering from a condition called feathering, which transforms children into creatures. This curse bestows upon her a unique ability that causes feathers to emerge from her body, allowing her to enter a rage mode where her strength is significantly enhanced.
In addition to its more intense gameplay since 2021, one notably appreciates its captivating artistic direction, which will transport players to the dark and turbulent lands of Shu during the Ming Dynasty, a period marked by factional wars. This game is developed by Chinese studio Lenzee, based in Chengdu and founded in 2016, previously known for VR games. The publishing will be handled by 505 Games, with a release scheduled for 2025 on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. It will be available day one on the Game Pass.
