In December 2019, China s indie scene was out in full force at WePlay in Shanghai, arguably the most significant developer-focused event in the country. Paired with the China Indie Game Alliance (CiGA) conference, the annual convention is a highlight for the mainland s relatively young game scene.
Chinese heavyweights like Next Studios, TapTap, bilibili, and Coconut Island held court on the floor the latter had a booth styled as a nostalgic classroom with a blackboard and wooden desks. There were also, of course, international names like Blizzard, Ubisoft, and 505 Games. But the real stars of the show were from smaller studios, each offering an intriguing look at the range and depth of the Chinese indie landscape.