Bridging Perspectives: The Case for Western Developers to Learn from Chinese Character Design
Boris Naltin
18 Feb 2025
he topic of character design has sparked considerable discussion in recent months, especially following the latest announcements from major gaming studios. Recently, the CEO of CI Games has added his perspective, suggesting that Western developers could gain valuable insights from Chinese studios regarding the creation of female characters. He cites the success of Tides of Annihilation and references additional titles like Lost Soul Aside and Phantom Blade as noteworthy examples of effective character design.
In a post on social media, he conveyed the idea that it may be beneficial for Chinese developers to engage with Western perspectives to enhance their approach to creating memorable female characters.
At the same time, many Western developers are receiving significant criticism for their character designs. Recent examples include Kay Vess from the poorly received Star Wars Outlaws and the character creations in Intergalactic the Heretic Prophet, which have been met with backlash online, particularly focusing on visual aspects.
This raises an important question: does the CEO of CI Games present a valid argument? Is there merit in the suggestion that Western developers should look to Chinese studios for inspiration in character design strategies?