PS5 game Lost Soul Aside also struggling in China after controversy with former dev resurfaces

As a product of the PlayStation China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside introduces a new audience to Chinese developers. Unfortunately, the action RPG is receiving a rocky reception from Western gamers and its home country. Controversial comments from a former developer may explain the damaged standing of the first-party PS5 game.

Reported by Twisted Voxel, an UltiZero Games team member sent disturbing messages during an April 2024 private QQ chat. Known as Vivian, the one-time executive planner argued that Lost Soul Aside could “only be completed thanks of Yang Bing and me.” The title began as a solo effort for Bing before Sony became involved.

Vivian resented PlayStation’s influence over the project. Drawing more attention are racial remarks that include a slur. The developer accuses Sony of prioritizing gamers outside China over local players. The statements weren’t widely covered in Western media, but caused a stir among Chinese gamers. Bing later denied Vivian’s claims and apologized after confirming the employee’s dismissal.

It seems that the RPG never regained the goodwill of players in its country of origin. Daniel Camilo noted that only four copies of the first-party PS5 game may have sold during a recent PlayStation China livestream. If Steam player counts are any indication, sales are also slow in other regions. Lost Soul Aside peaked at only around 3000 players, a disappointment compared to other PlayStation PC ports.

Prior to the Lost Soul Aside release date, hands-on impressions hinted at significant performance issues. Those problems have persisted, leading to mixed Steam reviews. While the developers are working on optimizing visuals, frame rates aren’t the only stumbling blocks. Underdeveloped characters and disappointing writing and voiceovers are other concerns.

With the China Hero Project, PlayStation is heavily invested in Chinese game development. Even if Lost Soul Aside doesn’t succeed like Black Myth: Wukong, the company sees untapped potential in the country.