Lost Soul Aside’s Development Story is Just as Fascinating as the Actual Game

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The game titled “Lost Soul Aside” is undeniably intriguing, offering a mix of the action-packed real-time combat found in games like Final Fantasy, combined with the epic save-the-world narrative often seen in shonen anime. Despite being somewhat derivative in certain aspects, its unique backstory and independent origins set it apart.

It’s no secret that many gaming enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for quite some time – Lost Soul Aside, initially started in 2014 by one developer named Yang Bing, was first showcased with gameplay in 2016. Impressed by his work, Sony reached out to offer assistance as part of the China Hero Project, an initiative aimed at boosting Chinese developers. With this opportunity, Yang Bing established UltiZero Games and finally launched Lost Soul Aside this year. The question remains if the wait was worth it, given its relatively mixed reception, but the story behind its development is undeniably intriguing to explore.

At the outset, Yang Bing was still a greenhorn in the industry as he embarked on the project of Lost Soul Aside, since he had not completed his postgraduate studies at that time.

Lost Soul Aside’s Development Story Is Part of an Ongoing Saga

China’s Gaming Market Led to Lost Soul Aside

Although China ranks high in global politics, trade, and exports of goods such as wine, textiles, and electronics, it has had a relatively quiet impact on the video game industry until recently. The 1970s and 1980s were periods of economic instability for China following Mao Zedong’s death, which hindered its growth in the gaming sector. As console gaming gained popularity worldwide, an unofficial market flourished in China that discouraged foreign investment. The Chinese government even prohibited video game consoles outright in 2000 due to concerns about addiction. However, China has since warmed up to video games, as demonstrated by recent productions like “Black Myth Wukong” and “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers”.

The expansion of China’s gaming industry was significantly impacted by high taxes on imports, a policy implemented by Japan, which is an issue that current video game enthusiasts are increasingly encountering.

It wasn’t until 2015, a year after the start of Lost Soul Aside’s development, that China finally lifted its ban on consoles. This left Yang Bing without the advantage of local support, creating an opportunity for Sony. The China Hero Project was initiated partly because Sony saw potential in China’s hesitation to invest in video games. Lost Soul Aside was welcomed into the China Hero Project during its initial phase, with Sony’s Shanghai office emphasizing the game’s significance at the project’s early stages. Consequently, Lost Soul Aside became one of the first projects nurtured under the China Hero Project, and its patrons were optimistic about its potential success.

It’s understandable that we hoped the initial release of China Hero Project would be a blockbuster, but a modest success is still commendable. Perhaps the hype surrounding Lost Soul Aside was overly optimistic, given it’s the first game by a newcomer and a studio formed under unique circumstances. The fact that the game was even released is impressive considering Sony didn’t join as the publisher until 2022. Yang Bing mentioned that Sony played a crucial role during challenging development stages, suggesting a strong partnership. Here’s to hoping China Hero Project continues to support aspiring creators; maybe we’ll get a Lost Soul Aside 2 in the future.

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2025-09-03 22:23