Fans of Chinese literature, more notably of the wuxia genre, and worshippers of all the martial arts goodness written by renowned Chinese author Jin Yong – your prayers have been answered as the latest project by LightSpeed Studios, Code: To Jin Yong, is a proud wanderer of the open-world concept, tapping on the rich creations of the author.
The first trailer of the upcoming game already features an epic cinematic battle with one of the author’s best characters, Yang Guo, from The Return of the Condor Heroes (神雕侠侣), and a player character boasting the skills of Linghu Cong, the protagonist from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (笑傲江湖).
While his works are part of a larger, linked tapestry, the difference in timelines means some books precede another and the main characters don’t necessarily interact. However, that will change under the Tencent Games/Level Infinite studio, with the Unreal Engine 5-powered game allowing for a connected wuxia universe.
Given the many novels written by Jin Yong (he penned 16 pieces of work, of which 11 are loosely interconnected), the game is expected to feature plenty of recognisable characters, from Zhang Wuji to Qiao Feng. As a tribute to the late author, Code: To Jin Yong is positioned to bring to life the wuxia dreams for generations of fans who grew up on the novels and countless television adaptations across Asia, and possibly allow fans to see just who is the strongest out of the many characters from different stories.
The use of Unreal Engine 5 will also deliver a level of fidelity that is quite easy on the eyes. Expect photorealistic visuals and immersive experiences, while the underlying technology of the engine enables LightSpeed Studios to recreate iconic martial arts moves that align closely to those described in the novels.
“Code: To Jin Yong will ensure a seamless integration of motion design into the game, so it won’t only look stunning, but it will also create an interactive experience so players will almost feel their moves,” the press release added.
Locations like Huashan Mountain aka Mount Hua, home of the Huashan Sect (of which the character Linghu Cong is aligned) will also make their way into the game, with the team paying close attention to even the most minute of details to realise a wuxia world in a digital, playable form. For now, there is no release date, although the mention of a “near future” launch might see the game arrive later this year or in early 2023.
If you are wondering about LightSpeed Studios itself, it is an international entity with offices in China, United States, Singapore, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. Its biggest game to date is likely PUBG Mobile, with Code: To Jin Yong marking its first AAA effort.
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