I’ve been watching the PlayStation Convallaria situation unfold for weeks, and honestly? It’s one of the messiest gaming industry controversies I’ve seen this year. What started as whispers about a missing game on Sony’s China Hero Project website has exploded into a full-blown scandal involving allegations of payment delays, attempted hostile takeovers, and deliberate sabotage.
PlayStation Convallaria was supposed to be a flagship title for Sony’s initiative supporting Chinese developers. Instead, developer Loongforce is now accusing Sony Interactive Entertainment’s China division of systematically undermining their project for years. The game has been completely erased from PlayStation’s official China Hero Project website, and Sony isn’t saying a word.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways:
- PlayStation Convallaria removed from Sony’s China Hero Project website in Americas and Europe
- Developer Loongforce alleges years of stalled payments, mismanagement, and attempted development takeover
- The game passed Sony’s internal beta approval in January 2025 but was mysteriously frozen
- Monthly losses reportedly exceeded $230,000, pushing the studio toward collapse
- Sony has not responded to any allegations
What Is PlayStation Convallaria?
PlayStation Convallaria is a sci-fantasy co-op shooter developed by Loongforce, a Chengdu-based studio founded in 2016. The game blends PvP and PvE gameplay in a world where science fiction meets fantasy—think Destiny meets Final Fantasy.
Three-person squads drop into massive maps hosting up to 100 players. You’re looting weapons, modding gear in real-time, battling AI monsters in raid-style challenges, and fighting other players for resources. It was set to be free-to-play with seasonal updates, following the modern live-service model.
What made Convallaria special was its pedigree. Loongforce includes veterans from major AAA projects, and the game was being directly published by Sony Interactive Entertainment—not just funded through China Hero Project, but actually published globally. Only a handful of China Hero Project titles have received that commitment, making this situation even more troubling. Understanding how indie games navigate development challenges gives perspective on what these studios face.
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2018: Convallaria selected for PlayStation’s China Hero Project second batch.
2021: Loongforce signed a global multi-platform publishing agreement with Sony—making PlayStation Convallaria a flagship title with worldwide distribution.
2022: New leadership took over SIE China’s software oversight. Bao Bo, Director of Game Production at SIE China, began managing Convallaria. Loongforce alleges this is when cooperation turned into “prolonged inaction and escalating disputes.”
2023-2024: Multiple emails to SIE China regarding publishing, server deployment, and marketing allegedly went unanswered.
January 2025: PlayStation Convallaria passed Sony’s internal beta approval. Instead of launching, the project allegedly froze. No player tests, no marketing, no storefront pages.
February 2025: PlayStation China’s promotional video featured every other China Hero Project game—Convallaria was nowhere to be seen despite producer Xu Min filming content for it.
March-April 2025: Payment delays allegedly caused monthly losses exceeding $230,000. Loongforce nearly dissolved but continued delivering weekly builds.
June 2025: Bao Bo allegedly demanded development leadership transfer to an “SIE Global Team,” warning that refusing would prevent the game from ever launching.
Late 2025: Loongforce submitted a formal complaint against Bao Bo. Sony quietly removed Convallaria from their website across Americas, Europe, MENA, and AU/NZ regions.
The Allegations Against Sony’s China Division
These are allegations from Loongforce—Sony has not responded. But documented evidence shared with multiple outlets paints a troubling picture.
Financial Pressure and Payment Delays
Loongforce claims critical funding was frequently delayed while Sony pressured them to spend money on “IT security restructuring” through specific firms allegedly connected to Sony management. The financial pressure intensified throughout early 2025, with monthly losses exceeding $230,000. It’s like managing resources in a complex automation game—except these are real livelihoods.
The Attempted Takeover
The most explosive allegation involves what Loongforce describes as a hostile takeover attempt. Bao Bo allegedly demanded development control transfer to the “SIE Global Team”—essentially taking the game from its creators. One developer told Noisy Pixel: “At that point, it stopped feeling like mismanagement and started feeling like a threat.”
The studio also alleges Sony forced specific partnerships, assigning all outsourcing work to Virtuos without developer approval while hiring staff with Virtuos connections.
The Deliberate Erasure
When a publisher removes a game without announcement, it’s never good news. But PlayStation Convallaria’s disappearance goes beyond typical quiet cancellations. Archived snapshots show Sony’s website could display 13 games—they added new titles but specifically removed Convallaria. This was deliberate.
Strangely, Asia and Oceania pages weren’t affected—only Americas, Europe, MENA, and AU/NZ. Why the selective removal? Sony isn’t talking.
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The China Hero Project launched in 2016 to discover and support Chinese developers, helping them reach global audiences. It’s produced success stories like Hardcore Mecha and ANNO: Mutationem.
But if Loongforce’s allegations are accurate, this represents a fundamental breakdown in the support structure. Multiple developers formerly associated with the program have reportedly described inconsistent support, shifting priorities, and long gaps without updates—suggesting systemic issues within SIE China.
The Lost Soul Aside situation already raised doubts about Sony’s Chinese partnerships after nearly a decade in development hell. Critics argue the program’s failures are outweighing its successes. Convallaria could be the final credibility blow.
If you’re a Chinese indie developer considering the China Hero Project, this controversy should give serious pause. When studios who played by the rules—delivered weekly builds, passed internal approval—can allegedly be pushed to collapse by their own publisher, something is fundamentally broken.
PlayStation Convallaria vs Sword of Convallaria: Key Differences
Don’t get confused when searching. These are completely different games:
Sword of Convallaria is a tactical RPG by XD Entertainment, launched July 2024 on PC and mobile. It features Final Fantasy Tactics-style turn-based combat, pixel art graphics, and gacha mechanics. Music by legendary composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. Understanding weapon systems in tactical RPGs helps appreciate what that game offers.
PlayStation Convallaria is a third-person co-op shooter by Loongforce for PS4, PS5, and PC. Different gameplay, art style, and developer. The name similarity is coincidental—”Convallaria” is the scientific name for Lily of the Valley.
When you see reviews discussing gacha pulls and turn-based combat, that’s Sword of Convallaria. The Sony controversy? That’s PlayStation Convallaria.
Is PlayStation Convallaria Cancelled?
The million-dollar question nobody can definitively answer. The website removal strongly suggests the game’s future under PlayStation publishing is over—you don’t scrub a title from your lineup unless you’ve given up.
But Loongforce continues seeking resolution. The game has a Steam page listing Loongforce as publisher, not Sony—perhaps indicating preparation for independent release. A self-published launch would lose Sony’s marketing muscle but could still get the game to players.
Most likely scenarios: quiet cancellation with no announcement; Loongforce negotiating independent release rights; or, least likely, Sony addressing allegations and reviving the project. Whatever happens, the damage to China Hero Project’s reputation is done. Future developers will think twice before entering similar partnerships. Similar to how hidden systems affect player experiences, the behind-the-scenes politics here are complex.
Final Thoughts on PlayStation Convallaria
The PlayStation Convallaria situation is a tragedy on multiple levels. For Loongforce, it represents years of work potentially lost. For China Hero Project, it’s a credibility crisis. For Sony, it’s a PR problem that won’t disappear through silence.
I genuinely hope the game releases somehow. PlayStation Convallaria showed real ambition—a team wanting to make something unique in the live-service shooter space. That effort deserves a chance to reach players.
But regardless of whether Convallaria launches, the allegations deserve answers. When a major corporation allegedly treats a development partner this way—delayed payments, hostile takeover attempts, deliberate promotional exclusion—the industry must take notice. Similar dynamics sometimes appear in unexpected places, like gaming promotional partnerships.
We’ll update you when developments emerge. If Sony breaks their silence, you’ll hear it here first. Drop your thoughts in the comments—the gaming community’s voice matters in holding publishers accountable.
Game on—and demand better from the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I play Sword of Convallaria?
Sword of Convallaria is available on PC (Steam), iOS, and Android. It launched July 31, 2024 for PC and August 1, 2024 for mobile. This is completely different from PlayStation’s Convallaria—different developers, different gameplay. Sword of Convallaria is a tactical RPG; PlayStation Convallaria is a third-person shooter.
Is Sword of Convallaria a gacha game?
Yes, Sword of Convallaria is a free-to-play tactical RPG with gacha mechanics. Players recruit characters through premium currency pulls. It features The Fool’s Journey (gacha mode) and Spiral of Destinies (traditional RPG). The gacha can be grindy, but many find the tactical gameplay enjoyable without spending money. Features music by Final Fantasy Tactics composer Hitoshi Sakimoto.
Do 18+ games exist on PlayStation?
Yes, mature and 18+ games exist on PlayStation. The PS Store has an Adult section featuring games with mature themes, sexual content, and graphic violence. Popular M-rated PS5 titles include Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us Part II, God of War Ragnarok, and Elden Ring. Various indie titles with explicit adult content require age verification to access.
What is the game mode in Sword of Convallaria?
Sword of Convallaria features multiple modes: The Fool’s Journey (primary story with gacha character collection), Spiral of Destinies (branching narrative RPG where decisions affect outcomes), and Crossing Worlds (daily challenges and training). Core gameplay is turn-based tactical combat on grid battlefields, similar to Final Fantasy Tactics.
Is Brawl Stars on Nintendo Switch?
No, Brawl Stars is not on Nintendo Switch. It remains exclusively mobile on iOS and Android. While community speculation exists about potential Switch ports—especially with the Switch’s touchscreen—Supercell hasn’t announced console plans. The game was designed “for mobile.” Don’t confuse it with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, a different fighting game available on Switch.
Is Paladins on PS5?
Yes, Paladins is playable on PS5 through backward compatibility. The free-to-play hero shooter with 50+ Champions supports cross-platform play between PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC. However, active development was halted February 6, 2025, following Evil Mojo layoffs—no new content updates expected, but the game remains playable. Nintendo Switch support ended June 2023.
