Exploring ChinaJoy 2025: An enjoyable journey through worldwide gaming trends and cultural intersections.

      Farlight 84 mech model

      On Monday, the four-day 22nd China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference (ChinaJoy) concluded at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The annual event, themed “Gather What You Love,” brought together numerous gaming and tech companies from across the globe.

      Farlight 84 mech model

      Lilith Games was a standout at the event with its upcoming sci-fi shooter, Farlight 84. The company designed its booth around the game and displayed a five-meter-tall mech model that quickly became a popular photo opportunity for attendees. Farlight 84 is scheduled for global release on August 7. To energize the audience, Lilith also invited professional e-sports players for live showmatches.

      BYD and Black Myth: Wukong co-branded car

      The collaboration between BYD and Black Myth: Wukong was one of the event’s key highlights. This innovative fusion of gaming culture with automotive design brought a new vibrancy to the show floor. The customized vehicle, featuring a black finish with bold gold accents, honored the game’s legendary Monkey King. At the booth, attendees could closely examine the car and engage with cosplayers dressed as the Monkey King.

      Special Haikyu edition of Oppo Reno14 series smartphones

      The Oppo booth transformed into a world inspired by anime, attracting young fans through its partnership with Haikyu. This popular Japanese anime and manga series centers on a high school volleyball team aiming to be the best in Japan. The booth recreated memorable scenes from the anime and provided visitors with interactive activities like a volleyball spike challenge and character trivia quiz. The special Haikyu edition of Oppo Reno14 series, released in May, was featured in the product experience zone. The four color variants of this edition were inspired by the anime's key themes.

      Cosplayer of Dave the Diver

      The Dave the Diver booth recreated the game’s iconic Blue Hole Ocean scene. Developed by Mintrocket, a subsidiary of Korea’s Nexon, this indie game has captivated players worldwide since its release in 2023, thanks to its unique blend of daytime diving adventures and nighttime sushi shop management, all presented in a pixel-art style.

      Live esports match of VALORANT

      Riot Games brought the shooter game VALORANT to life with a futuristic, agent-themed booth. The setup combined weapon models with dynamic lighting walls, creating an advanced tech atmosphere. Players had the opportunity to interact with the latest version of the game. Professional teams made surprise appearances for live showmatches, which drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

      SNK Championship Series 2025 offline tournament

      SNK hosted the Shanghai leg of the SCS (SNK Championship Series) 2025 offline tournament at the ChinaJoy venue, featuring The King of Fighters XV as the main title. This competition served as a qualifier for the championship finals. SNK also presented a fighting game-themed interactive zone, where visitors could immerse themselves in combat activities including giant arcade battles and boxing challenges.

      HarmonyOS gaming ecosystem

      Huawei Game Center showcased a selection of HarmonyOS titles in collaboration with popular games such as Honor of Kings and Light and Night. With over 10 million HarmonyOS 5 devices sold, the company noted that an increasing number of games are joining the growing HarmonyOS gaming ecosystem.

      Growing demand for ACG content in China

      Despite the lively atmosphere, the large crowd resulted in a somewhat overwhelming experience with the venue feeling congested. According to official data, approximately 410,000 attendees visited over the four days. Recently, several anime and gaming conventions in China, such as bilibili world 2025 and COMICUP 31, have reached full capacity, indicating a strong consumer demand for ACG (animation, comics, and games) content.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can connect with her via e-mail: [email protected]. More by Jessie Wu.