If your game is on Steam, Chinese players can already buy it. This is a basic introduction to the Chinese games market for Western studios: what to do first, where Chinese players and creators actually are, and how to price your game, in 10 minutes.
For the past four years I have helped non-Chinese studios reach Chinese players, grow their wishlists and sales in China, and get noticed by Chinese publishers.
In this video
- Why you do not need a Chinese licence to reach Chinese players (Steam Global vs Steam China)
- Localization: Simplified Chinese first, plus a Chinese name and store description
- How Chinese creators find your game, and why you need WeChat, not Discord
- Where to market: Bilibili and Douyin first, then Huya and TapTap
- Steam's Spring Festival event and other free exposure
- How to get Chinese publishers to notice you
- Pricing: the ¥20–70 sweet spot, and who the typical Chinese player is
Chapters
00:00 Intro · 00:57 Myth: you need a licence to reach China · 02:16 Localization · 03:13 Your game's Chinese name and store page · 03:42 Creators and WeChat · 05:05 Bilibili, Douyin and other platforms · 05:48 Steam festivals · 06:43 Getting noticed by publishers · 08:05 Pricing and negative reviews · 09:10 Who Chinese players are
See how your own game is doing in China
The China Radar is free: Steam reviews by language, the price in yuan, Heybox and Bilibili, side by side. If your game is not on it, send me the Steam link and I will add it.
Open China RadarTalk to YLX