By love-89.com On October 9th, Zhao Qiang from China News Service spoke with Kuan Liang, a Taiwanese entrepreneur and partner at Second Personality Studio, about the exciting new opportunities emerging in the mainland gaming industry. Kuan opened up about his journey and passion for game development.
“I really consider myself lucky; gaming is my true passion. I studied physics at university without any clear plans for my future. Over the years, I’ve come to see game development as my destined path,” Kuan shared during the interview.
In a corporate building in Hefei, Anhui Province, Kuan and his startup team are hard at work preparing to launch their third game later this month. Second Personality Studio boasts a team of nearly 20 young professionals, all of whom are immersed in the intricate processes of game design and development.
Born in Taiwan in 1994, Kuan pursued a degree in physics at the University of California. He met his business partner there, who was studying computer science, and their shared love for gaming led them to start a game studio on the mainland after graduating. “My partner is from Bozhou in Anhui. We both had a passion for single-player games, and his wife, who is our friend, was studying art in Japan at that time. The three of us often discussed game production together,” Kuan explained. They founded the studio in 2018, and Kuan joined officially in September 2019.
In June 2020, the studio launched its first game, which turned out to be a significant financial success. The influx of funds enabled them to relocate to a larger space, expanding both their office and team.
This summer, the gaming community buzzed with excitement over the release of the mainland’s first domestically produced AAA game, “Black Myth: Wukong.” Kuan shared how this release profoundly impacted him, underscoring their commitment to weaving Chinese cultural elements into their games. “We’re passionate about blending different cultural essences to create something unique,” he said.
Kuan sees Anhui’s classic Hui-style architecture and the stunning Yellow Mountain as rich sources of inspiration for their game designs. “We want to infuse Hui elements into our games so players can experience this unique cultural charm. It’s not just about enhancing the richness of our content; it’s also about promoting and preserving traditional Chinese culture,” he remarked.
The launch of “Black Myth: Wukong” has received enthusiastic praise from gamers in Taiwan. Kuan recounted a memorable moment at a hospital in Taiwan during the game’s launch phase when he noticed it being highlighted extensively on television. “It was the first time I’d seen such significant coverage of a mainland game, which clearly demonstrated its impact,” he noted.
Kuan highlighted the strengths of both Taiwan and mainland China in the gaming sector: “Taiwan has a long history with a relatively mature gaming industry and well-established management and production practices. Meanwhile, the mainland presents a vast market filled with opportunities and a rapidly growing talent pool. If players from both regions can collaborate and delve into the treasure trove of traditional Chinese culture, the future is looking incredibly promising.”
According to the “2024 China Game Industry Report for January to June,” the sales revenue from domestically developed games in overseas markets reached $8.554 billion in the first half of this year, with the domestic market generating 147.267 billion yuan, showcasing a strong growth trend.