Last December, TuSimple, a Chinese company once well known for its autonomous driving technology, made a bold move into the gaming industry. After facing business headwinds, it announced its transformation into a generative AI company called CreateAI.
Based on Jin Yong IP, CreateAI is currently developing an open-world wuxia role-playing game called Heroes of Jin Yong. Jin Yong is a Chinese author famous for his influential wuxia (martial arts) novels that have shaped the genre for decades.
The game is scheduled for release in the second half of 2027 for console and PC. For a company fresh from a strategic pivot, this is not only a major creative undertaking but also a high-stakes gamble that could define its future.
Inside CreateAI’s vision for Heroes of Jin Yong
Last week at ChinaJoy, we had the opportunity to interview Cheng Lu, CEO of CreateAI, who shared his insights on the development of Heroes of Jin Yong.
When asked about the use of Unreal Engine 5 in the game, Cheng explained that UE5’s powerful features and plugins allow the team to recreate iconic landscapes, famous towns, rivers, and mountains from Jin Yong’s novels. This technology aims to deliver a visually stunning and immersive experience for players, he said.
On the appeal of Jin Yong among younger audiences, the author continues to gain new young readers among his more than 300 million fans worldwide, according to Cheng. “This was confirmed through recent campus and offline events, proving that the spirit of martial arts still strikes a chord with today’s youth. The game seeks to balance cultural heritage with innovation by keeping classic characters and storylines, while also introducing new quests and interactive elements to engage modern players,” Cheng said.
Regarding the application of AI, Cheng described the development of a AAA game as extremely complex, with workflows that benefit from AI. This includes enriching NPC (Non-Player Character) behavior and interactions, which in turn enhances the game’s immersive and dynamic feel. While AI won’t replace human creativity, it will help make the game world more lively and responsive, he explained.
For the current development status, Cheng shared that the project, which integrates more than a dozen of Jin Yong’s works, remains in its early stages. “The team is working hard to bring the game to life as soon as we can.,” Cheng said.
On CreateAI’s unique strengths and strategic goals for the project, Cheng mentioned the rarity of the Heroes of Jin Yong IP license. “It’s the first full authorization in twenty years that covers all 15 novels, which lets us create exciting storylines and quests that pull together elements from across the whole Jin Yong universe,” Cheng said.
Cheng also noted the team’s investment in a large motion capture studio in Beijing’s Huairou District. The 2,000-square-meter facility uses 130 Vicon VK26 cameras to support high-quality production for video games, films, and animation, according to the company.
Can it carry the torch for Chinese AAA games?
Since Black Myth: Wukong, no other major Chinese AAA title has taken up the mantle yet. Whether Heroes of Jin Yong can maintain that legacy in 2027 remains to be seen, but fans are hoping to see a playable demo and offline trial events as soon as possible.
If CreateAI can successfully blend Jin Yong’s literary universe with cutting-edge game technology and AI-driven innovation, Heroes of Jin Yong could become not just a milestone for the company, but a landmark for Chinese AAA game development.
