China studio unveils Genigods: Nezha action game for PS5 and PC

China-based developer Genigods Lab has announced Genigods: Nezha, a new action game in development for PlayStation 5 and PC. Built with Unreal Engine 5, the project is still in its early stages and targets a 2028 release window.

The game was recently presented during a briefing with members of the studio, including founder and technical expert Young Lui and co-founder and creative director Erdi Yao. While no firm launch date has been set, the developer confirmed that PlayStation 5 is the lead platform, with plans to support PS5 Pro features, full DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Genigods: Nezha draws on Chinese mythology, focusing on the legendary figure Nezha. The studio is aiming to reinterpret the traditional story through a modern action game lens, blending fast-paced combat with large-scale environments and exploration. Although the project is several years away from release, the team has outlined its core design goals and gameplay direction.

A mythological action game with aerial and ground combat

Genigods: Nezha features a combat system that lets players seamlessly switch between ground and aerial combat. According to the developers, this fluid approach is central to how Nezha will feel in control, with combat designed to look stylish while remaining responsive.

Early gameplay footage shown during the briefing suggested a strong focus on cinematic, one-on-one boss encounters, similar in tone to recent action titles inspired by mythological themes. These battles are intended to highlight precise timing, movement and the use of different abilities, while also giving each boss a distinct personality and fighting style.

However, the studio stressed that boss fights will not be the only focus. Genigods: Nezha will also include large, sandbox-style levels that encourage exploration. Players can expect puzzles, combat encounters against groups of enemies and optional paths that lead to rewards such as new weapons and outfits. The intention is to give players space to experiment and discover content beyond the main story path.

In terms of inspiration, Genigods Lab cited a range of well-known action games, including Black Myth Wukong, God of War, Devil May Cry, Nioh and Stellar Blade. These influences can be seen in the emphasis on close-quarters combat, dramatic presentation and challenging enemy design, while the studio aims to blend these elements into its own identity.

Balancing challenge with accessibility

Many of the games that inspire Genigods: Nezha are known for their high difficulty, raising questions about how accessible the new title will be for less experienced players. During the question-and-answer session, the developers explained that they are taking cues from an unexpected source to address this issue.

“We want new users to be able to master our combat,” said Young Lui. “We’ve made a control method like ‘Modern’ in Street Fighter 6. By holding R1 and then pressing any key, you can do cool combos easily. This should help new users to start quickly. Then, for the outstanding players, we have a ‘Classic’ version, where you can do more combos and combine more moves together.”

This dual control approach is intended to lower the barrier to entry without reducing the depth of the combat system. New players can rely on simplified controls to perform effective attacks, while experienced players can switch to more complex controls for greater precision and creativity.

The studio believes this flexibility will help Genigods: Nezha appeal to a broader audience, including those interested in action games but put off by steep learning curves. At the same time, the developers want skilled players to feel rewarded for mastering advanced techniques and experimenting with different move combinations.

Dynamic bosses and long-term ambitions

Beyond control schemes, Genigods Lab is also working on a dynamic artificial intelligence system for boss fights. The goal is to make bosses behave more like player-controlled characters, capable of reacting to and anticipating the player’s actions.

According to the team, bosses may attempt to predict attacks, counter specific moves and adapt their behaviour during fights. This would require players to read their opponents carefully and adjust their strategies in real time, rather than relying solely on memorised patterns.

While these ideas are ambitious, the developers were clear that Genigods: Nezha remains in early development. Many features are still being tested and refined, and significant changes could occur before release. The long development timeline reflects the studio’s desire to build a polished experience that meets modern expectations for high-end action games.

Despite the distance from launch, Genigods Lab has committed to making full use of PlayStation 5 hardware. Planned features include enhancements for PS5 Pro, as well as detailed haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support through the DualSense controller to add physical feedback to combat and movement.

If the studio can deliver on its vision, Genigods: Nezha could become another high-profile action title emerging from China’s growing game development scene, blending traditional mythology with modern design ideas.