A growing wave of Chinese-made PS4 and PS5 games is currently in development, fueled in part by PlayStation’s efforts to nurture new talent and bring more regional projects to a global audience. But while the market is expanding quickly, some developers say the relationship with PlayStation hasn’t always been smooth. The latest flashpoint centers on Convallaria, a cooperative shooter from studio Loongforce, which was originally selected for PlayStation’s China-focused support initiative back in 2018.
According to Loongforce, Convallaria’s long and uneven development has been shaped by years of friction with PlayStation. The studio says issues built up over time, including delayed payments, unclear communication, and hurdles that repeatedly slowed progress instead of accelerating it. In their account, the situation worsened in 2022 when Bao Bo, identified as Director of Game Production for SIE China, began overseeing the project. Loongforce claims that important funding from Sony frequently arrived late, and that the studio was also required to send money for what was described as “IT security restructuring,” adding more strain to an already difficult production cycle.
By mid-2025, Loongforce alleges the dispute reached a breaking point. The studio says it was presented with an ultimatum: hand over full development control to a global PlayStation team or risk the game never being released. The developers point to email records that allegedly support their version of events, painting a picture of a project caught between creative ambition and corporate pressure. If accurate, the claims suggest Convallaria may have shifted from being a supported partnership title to a contested asset.
Just as concerning for the studio is what it describes as Convallaria’s quiet disappearance from promotional efforts. Loongforce expected the game to appear in a February 2025 marketing video highlighting China-related PlayStation projects. Instead, the studio says Convallaria was left out while other titles were showcased. More recently, the game was reportedly omitted from an update on the official China initiative website as well, further fueling speculation that PlayStation has distanced itself from the project.
Loongforce reportedly remains in heavy debt but continues to seek a workable resolution. For now, the future of Convallaria appears uncertain, and the dispute raises bigger questions about how these partnerships work behind the scenes—especially when timelines stretch on for years and projects face shifting internal expectations.
It’s worth noting that PlayStation has not publicly responded to these allegations. In one reported message, Bao Bo stated that the game did not pass evaluations from multiple business divisions. Until Sony addresses the claims directly, outside observers can only weigh the competing narratives. Still, the controversy is likely to intensify discussions about the risks smaller studios face when relying on large platform holders for funding, approvals, and ultimately visibility—particularly in high-growth regions where expectations are rising and competition is fierce.
