PlayStation has quietly removed Convallaria from its China Hero Project lineup, and the reasons behind this move are raising serious questions about how Sony handles its indie partnerships. Developer Loongforce has come forward with explosive allegations against Sony Interactive Entertainment management, claiming years of mismanagement, payment delays, and even an attempted hostile takeover of their project.
What Happened with Convallaria
Convallaria, a fast-paced third-person shooter and battle royale game, was selected for PlayStation’s China Hero Project back in 2018. The ambitious title from Chengdu-based Loongforce Technology promised smooth gameplay, tactical teamwork, and battles supporting up to 100 players competing across a dream-like open world. For years, fans have been waiting for updates, only to be met with silence.
According to a report from MP1st, PlayStation recently updated its China Hero Project web pages across multiple regions including the Americas, Europe, and Australia. While other games that were previously in production got moved around or added to the list, Convallaria was completely scrubbed from the lineup. Archived snapshots from October 2025 show the game was still listed just two months ago, making this removal both recent and deliberate.
The Allegations Against Sony Management
Loongforce didn’t stay quiet about their removal. The studio reached out to MP1st with documents containing complaint letters sent directly to Sony Interactive Entertainment. These documents paint a troubling picture of the relationship between the indie studio and PlayStation’s China Hero Project management.
The core allegations include management stalling funding and threatening further payment delays, ignoring communication from the development team, and making absurd demands for work that had already been completed. Perhaps most shocking is the claim that Sony management attempted to bring in an IT firm with personal connections to the executives and force Loongforce to pay for it. Email exchanges between Loongforce and Bo Bao, Director of China Game Production at Sony Interactive Entertainment, allegedly corroborate these accusations about delayed payments and explicit threats to have support studio Virtuos take over the entire project.
Industry Perspective on Studio Takeovers
While investigating the claims, MP1st consulted industry sources who noted that it’s relatively normal for another studio to step in and handle specific parts of development. However, having an external studio take over an entire project is highly unusual and generally seen as a last resort when a project is failing catastrophically. This makes the threat particularly aggressive given that Loongforce was actively developing the game and simply needed the agreed-upon funding and support.
The timing of PlayStation’s website update removing Convallaria seems suspicious. The studio claims they’ve been left in the dark by Sony Interactive Entertainment for months with no clear communication about the project’s status. Either this is a massive administrative error where Sony mistakenly thought all Phase 2 games were completed, or it signals PlayStation quietly dropping the project altogether.
What This Means for China Hero Project
The China Hero Project was launched in 2016 and publicly announced in 2017 as PlayStation’s initiative to discover and support outstanding Chinese developers while bringing their games to a global audience. Success stories like ANNO: Mutationem and F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch have shown the program’s potential. Lost Soul Aside, another China Hero Project title, has become a flagship example of what the initiative can achieve.
However, the Convallaria situation casts a shadow over the program’s reputation. If Loongforce’s allegations prove true, it raises concerns for other indie studios considering partnerships with PlayStation through this initiative. Small studios often depend entirely on funding and support from publishers to complete their projects. When that support becomes unpredictable or hostile, it can destroy years of work and potentially bankrupt the developers involved.
The Game That Might Have Been
Convallaria itself showed promise as a multiplayer-focused tactical shooter. The game emphasized teamwork and strategic thinking across large open-world environments. Players would traverse the world with allies, facing challenges, securing resources, and battling opponents with a wide arsenal including laser rifles and plasma launchers. The game supported both PvP competitive modes and PvE cooperative boss battles.
Loongforce had previously won recognition from NVIDIA for the game’s technical achievements, showing the studio had genuine talent and vision. The dream-like aesthetic and promise of massive 100-player battles positioned it as a unique entry in the PlayStation lineup. Now that potential may never be realized, at least not under the PlayStation banner.
FAQs
What is Convallaria?
Convallaria is a third-person shooter and battle royale game developed by Chengdu-based Loongforce Technology. The game features tactical gameplay, supports up to 100 players, and was being developed for PlayStation platforms as part of the China Hero Project.
Why was Convallaria removed from the China Hero Project?
PlayStation has not officially explained the removal. Developer Loongforce alleges the project suffered from mismanagement by Sony executives, including delayed payments, poor communication, and attempted hostile takeover, which may have led to the quiet removal from the program.
What is PlayStation’s China Hero Project?
The China Hero Project is a Sony initiative launched in 2016 to discover and support Chinese game developers. The program provides development support, publishing assistance, and marketing resources to bring Chinese games to global audiences on PlayStation platforms.
Who is Bo Bao and what role did he play?
Bo Bao is the Director of China Game Production at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Email exchanges between Loongforce and Bao allegedly show evidence of delayed payment threats and discussions about having another studio take over Convallaria’s development entirely.
Will Convallaria still be released?
The game’s future is currently uncertain. While Loongforce states the project is not dead, its removal from the China Hero Project suggests it will not launch as a PlayStation-published title. The developer has not announced alternative plans for release.
What other games are part of the China Hero Project?
Successful China Hero Project releases include ANNO: Mutationem, F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch, and Hardcore Mecha. Lost Soul Aside is the most high-profile game still in development under the program and is scheduled to launch soon.
Has Sony responded to these allegations?
As of the latest reports, Sony Interactive Entertainment has not issued an official statement regarding Loongforce’s allegations or the removal of Convallaria from the China Hero Project lineup.
Could this affect other China Hero Project games?
While this situation is concerning, each China Hero Project partnership is unique. However, the allegations could make other indie studios more cautious about entering agreements with the program if Sony doesn’t address these concerns transparently.
Moving Forward
The Convallaria situation highlights the precarious position of indie developers working with major publishers. Regardless of whether Loongforce’s allegations are completely accurate, the fact that a promising game has disappeared from PlayStation’s lineup after seven years signals something went seriously wrong. For a program designed to nurture and showcase Chinese gaming talent, this represents a significant failure.
MP1st reached out to Sony for comment, but as of now, PlayStation has remained silent on the matter. Until Sony addresses these allegations directly, questions will linger about how the company manages its China Hero Project partnerships and whether adequate protections exist for the small studios putting their trust in the program. The gaming community will be watching closely to see if PlayStation can rebuild confidence in this initiative or if Convallaria becomes a cautionary tale for indie developers considering similar partnerships.