From July 31 to August 3, ChinaJoy 2026 transformed the Shanghai New International Expo Center into a hub where games, technology, and pop culture collided. As one of China’s biggest gaming events, the exhibition brought together leading developers, publishers, and some of the most anticipated titles in the industry.
Among the exhibitors, Giant Network drew attention with a diverse lineup featuring Supernatural Action Team, the Zhengtu franchise, Battle of Balls, Night of the Full Moon, Super Sus, and Heroes of Might, showcasing how the company continues to explore new possibilities across game innovation, cultural storytelling, and AI-powered experiences.
At ChinaJoy 2026, Giant Network placed its rising hit Supernatural Action Team at the heart of its booth experience. Visitors could explore an immersive zone designed to bring the game’s unique world to life.
Released in January 2025, the Chinese-style adventure multiplayer title quickly stood out with its unusual mix of light horror aesthetics, traditional Chinese elements, and cooperative gameplay.
According to the company, Supernatural Action Team had attracted more than 200 million registered users and surpassed 10 million daily active users (DAU) by the end of Q1 2026, and the game has become one of Giant Network’s major growth engines in the casual competitive gaming market.
Unlike traditional horror games, Supernatural Action Team blends exploration, resource gathering, cooperative gameplay, and light horror elements into a multiplayer adventure. Players team up to venture into mysterious locations, search for valuable resources, confront supernatural creatures, and constantly weigh risk against reward.
By placing a stronger focus on social gameplay, the title lowers the barrier to entry for the horror genre while delivering a distinctive Chinese-inspired supernatural adventure.
The game’s booth at ChinaJoy 2026 further reinforced this cultural identity. Drawing inspiration from Nuo Opera, a form of China’s intangible cultural heritage, Giant Network integrated Nuo masks, a traditional opera stage, and classical sculptural elements into the booth design.
Giant Network said Supernatural Action Team continues to explore new ways of blending traditional Chinese culture with interactive entertainment. The game previously collaborated with Yang Yunxia, the seventh-generation inheritor of Nuo mask carving from Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, to integrate the traditional craftsmanship of Nuo Opera into in-game costume designs.
It has also partnered with a range of cultural IPs, including the Forbidden City’s mythical creatures, Kunlun Mountain Geopark, Dunhuang Art Museum, Huaxian shadow puppetry, Jingzhou Museum, Jingdezhen blue-and-white porcelain, and Weifang kite.
Beyond cultural integration, AI was another major focus of Giant Network’s showcase at ChinaJoy. As AI continues to reshape game development, gameplay design, and live operations, the company is exploring how AI can enhance player experiences.
In January, Supernatural Action Team introduced an AI large language model (LLM) challenge mode featuring AI-controlled characters capable of dynamic decision-making. Within its first week, AI characters participated in more than 25 million matches, the company said.
Unlike conventional scripted NPCs, these AI-driven teammates can communicate naturally with players and adapt their strategies based on the evolving game state, resource distribution, and risk assessment.
In Supernatural Action Team, AI goes beyond serving as a companion or scripted NPC. AI-controlled characters can conceal their identities, engage players in natural conversations, build trust over time, and even betray teammates when the situation changes.
By combining social interaction with dynamic decision-making, Giant Network is turning AI into an active participant that can influence the flow of a match, introducing a level of unpredictability that traditional NPCs cannot replicate.
In its social deduction game Super Sus, the company previously rolled out features such as AI Mystery Theater, generating tens of millions of AI-powered matches. Those large-scale deployments have provided valuable real-world data and operational experience for integrating large language models into live-service games.
At ChinaJoy 2026, Giant Network presented AI as more than a productivity tool for game development. Instead, the company is positioning AI as a gameplay technology that can reshape player interactions while continuing to experiment with the integration of traditional Chinese culture into modern game design.
As the industry increasingly converges around AI, cultural storytelling, and live-service experiences, Giant Network is using ChinaJoy to showcase its vision for the next generation of interactive entertainment.
