By integrating elements of soft power with popular culture tools such as video games, China’s cultural diplomacy is reshaping its global engagement. The 2026 Global Diplomatic New Year’s Reception, held in Beijing on December 21, 2025, incorporated cultural performances with diplomatic dialogue as a reflection of this strategy.[i] However, the concept of innovation seems to lie in the role of video games as a soft power, in the digital world. Sustainable partnerships as discussed at the event highlight the potential of the gaming industry to shape the global image, with green energy projects shared with representatives from countries such as Pakistan and Zambia blending cultural elements with economic cooperation. In this context, video games are transforming China’s soft power into an interactive and sustainable tool, creating an impact that transcends traditional diplomacy.
As defined by Joseph Nye, soft power refers to a country’s ability to build influence through its cultural appeal. China is also attracting attention through these video games, presenting elements of mythology and history to global players. By 2025, this strategy has reached maturity, supported by billions of dollars in investment in the gaming industry, with companies such as Tencent leading the way. For example, Tencent’s Honor of Kings game attracts millions of players with heroes inspired by Chinese mythology, combining cultural diplomacy with entertainment. By reaching over 100 million active users in 2025, this game has reinforced China’s soft power in Asia and Latin America.[ii]
Honor of Kings serves as a concrete example of China’s soft power. The game integrates Confucian philosophy and ancient warrior myths, allowing players to experience Chinese history. The Honor of Kings World Champion Cup tournament, held in the city of Chengdu in 2025, attracted over 50 million viewers as an international e-sports event, combining cultural diplomacy with the excitement of sports. This event introduced Chinese culture to foreign participants by blending traditional Chinese heritage with modern technology. For example, the Chinese folk dances performed during the tournament created a cultural bridge that harmonized with the game’s mythological elements. From this perspective, China’s “peaceful development” narrative is placed as a soft power tool, with players collaborating in the game to promote unity and symbolize global harmony.[iii][iv]
Another popular game, Genshin Impact, stretches China’s soft power through its open-world design. Developed by MiHoYo (which currently operates under the name “Hoyoverse”), the game reached over 80 million downloads by 2025, transforming Chinese mythology and fantasy elements into a global narrative. The game exposes players to Chinese culture by featuring Chinese-inspired regions. For example, the Liyue region models Chinese architecture and festivals, making cultural diplomacy a sustainable and digital experience. In 2025, the game’s anime adaptation aired on Netflix, increasing soft power through media integration and positively influencing the image of China among younger generations.[v]
Black Myth: Wukong stands out as a defining moment in China’s soft power in 2025. Developed by Game Science, the game is inspired by the Journey to the West novel and tells the story of the monkey king Sun Wukong’s adventure. The game generated 1.1 billion dollars in revenue by selling 10 million copies in three days, introducing Chinese mythology to global gamers. Detailed graphics and philosophical allegories reflect Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies. For example, the concept of the “six roots” in the game teaches players Chinese philosophy, making cultural diplomacy an educational tool. By 2025, the game’s success had brought China’s digital soft power to a mature stage, and it was recognized as a cultural masterpiece by Western critics.[vi]
Where Winds Meet is yet another game contributing to China’s soft power in 2025, developed by Everstone Studio. Inspired by ancient Chinese literature and martial arts, the game attracted over 2 million players within 24 hours and was positively rated on the Steam platform. The game’s beautiful graphics and cultural elements have overcome translation issues and gained global acceptance. For example, its wuxia themed story presents Chinese history to players in an interactive way, strengthening soft power through cultural storytelling. This game demonstrates how China’s gaming industry has transformed from a consumer to a global producer, bearing the fruit of soft power investments.[vii]
Companies such as NetEase and Perfect World support China’s soft power through a variety of games. NetEase’s Naraka: Bladepoint game reached 20 million players in 2025, presenting Chinese martial arts in a multiplayer format. The game combines cultural heritage with mythology, encouraging cultural exchange among players. For example, character designs are drawn from Chinese folklore, reinforcing soft power through social interaction. Perfect World’s Jade Dynasty game, with its xianxia themed story, has established dominance in the Asian market and gained popularity in Latin America with its mobile version in 2025.[viii]
Lilith Games’ titles like Sword of Convallaria integrate China’s soft power with strategic elements. The game combines Chinese history and myths with tactical gameplay, achieving 15 million downloads by 2025. This approach brings players closer to Chinese culture through strategic thinking. For example, the game’s alliance systems symbolize “win-win” diplomacy, turning soft power into a collaborative tool. In 2025, these games played a role in China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative, linking cultural diplomacy with technology.[ix]
Developed by Papergames, Love and Deepspace stands out as a significant example due to its female-centric design and its representation of the rise of the “otome” game genre, which has been dominated by Japan for many years, now centered in China. The game won the Best Mobile Game award at the 2025 Gamescom Awards, beating strong competitors such as Genshin Impact, thus going down in history as the first romantic production to receive the award. It also won the Mobile Best Experience (Grand Prize) and Mobile – Best Game Design (Gold) awards at the 2025 NYX Game Awards, proving its success in both technical and design aspects.[x]
The speeches of Xi Jinping locate video games as part of soft power. At the 2023 Belt and Road Forum, Xi emphasized that the initiative shares cultural heritage and included the gaming industry in this vision. Xi has linked soft power to peaceful development, stating that games support the principles of discussion and cooperation. By 2025, this rhetoric had materialized in gaming tournaments, with games being used in China-Russia cultural events. The “harmonious world” discourse makes video games an instrument of harmony; this concept, inherited from Hu Jintao, has evolved under Xi with the gaming industry, promoting cultural respect.
Games emphasize equality in a multipolar world, strengthening soft power in Southeast Asia. For example, gaming events in ASEAN countries have reinforced cultural diplomacy. The 2023 White Paper “Global Community with a Shared Future” emphasizes that culture supports multipolarity, making cultural exchanges and cyber nationalism part of soft power.[xi]
By 2025, China-Russia cultural diplomacy had integrated games into more than 230 events, combining soft power with political alliances. For example, game fairs held in 51 Chinese cities introduced Russian players to Chinese mythology, building cultural bridges. Confucius Institutes reinforced soft power through education by including game programs in 2025. China’s Latin American policy used games as a tool for cultural exchange in 2025, positioning Tencent’s investments as a soft power strategy. To give an example, Honor of Kings tournaments in Brazil have integrated with local culture, strengthening soft power through regional ties. In 2025, the gaming industry faced limitations due to ideological controls, but the success of Black Myth: Wukong demonstrated the potential of soft power. In Central Asia, games combine soft power with economic incentives.
In conclusion, China’s cultural diplomacy has transformed its soft power through video games, with its 2025 achievements making the sector a global leader. Forecasts for 2026 indicate that the industry will approach 500 billion dollars; Tencent and NetEase will maintain their market dominance with AAA games, while Saudi Arabia’s investments will accelerate growth. The Digital Silk Road will spread game exports to Africa and the Global South, while AI tools will enhance local studios, increase cultural diversity, and reinforce Chinese culture among younger generations. Between 2026 and 2030, e-sports tournaments will be integrated into KYG forums; China will challenge US virtual hegemony with physical infrastructure by exporting gaming standards (5G integration). In the long term, cultural diplomacy, with Xi’s vision of “smartification”, can be integrated with de-dollarization within BRICS+ by concretizing the harmonious world discourse with VR/AR systems. In the future, China’s soft power has the potential to shape multipolarity.
[i] “Culture takes center stage at diplomatic New Year reception”, China Daily, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202512/26/WS694dd01ca310d6866eb3086f.html, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[ii] “China’s Soft Power Campaign”, Wilson Center, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/chinas-soft-power-campign, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[iii] “China’s Soft Power Play: How Video Games Are Boosting Beijing’s Global Influence”, The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/chinas-soft-power-play-how-video-games-are-boosting-beijings-global-influence/, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[iv] Xiang, J., & Yuan, S. (2025). eSports and gaming: China’s quest for global soft power. East Asia, 1-20.
[v] “Genshin Impact and Chinese Nationalism”, The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/genshin-impact-and-chinese-nationalism/, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[vi] “CO25020 | Black Myth: Wukong and China’s Soft Power Expansion”, Nanyang Technological University, https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/black-myth-wukong-and-chinas-soft-power-expansion/, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[vii] CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter: China’s homegrown games capture overseas players as its cultural influence expands, CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/19/china-connection-newsletter-video-game-soft-power-tencent-netease-pif-where-winds-meet.htm, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[viii] ibid.
[ix] ibid.
[x] “Infold Games Triumphs at NYX Game Awards with Wins for Love and Deepspace and Infinity Nikki”, Games Press, https://www.gamespress.com/Infold-Games-Triumphs-at-NYX-Game-Awards-with-Wins-for-Love-and-Deepsp, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).
[xi] “China’s gaming industry comes of age”, East Asia Forum, https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/11/16/chinas-gaming-industry-comes-of-age/, (Access Date: 28.12.2025).