Chinese video game company Lilith Games chooses Barcelona for European expansion

The Chinese video game company Lilith Games has chosen Barcelona as its first European base by investing in a local studio, XRON. Both companies have established a collaboration agreement to promote joint projects from the capital of Catalonia. While Lilith has primarily focused on mobile video games, this initiative will allow them to expand into developing premium PC games and multiplatform products.

“Barcelona is a city with a strong artistic atmosphere and an excellent pool of design talent, providing the conditions for developing the gaming industry”

Ou Ya, Lilith's Head of Strategy and Investment

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To set up in Catalonia, Lilith has had the support of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Catalan agency for business competitiveness of the Department of Business and Labour, which also advises and supports companies in the processes after their establishment in Catalonia.

According to Lilith's Head of Strategy and Investment, Ou Ya, "Barcelona is a city with a strong artistic atmosphere and has an excellent pool of design talent, providing the necessary conditions for the development of the gaming industry". On the other hand, he also highlights "the strong gaming industry ecosystem and leading development capabilities" the Catalan capital offers and the "support of the Government".

Until now, Lilith's only presence outside Asia has been in Los Angeles, where it has its own publishing and international promotion team. The company has also partnered with a local studio to develop cloud video games. In Catalonia, this studio, operating from Barcelona's Eixample district, will continue its work under the XRON brand. With Lilith's investment, the studio plans to expand its team, which is currently comprised of four full-time staff members (plus freelancers), aiming to double the staff in the first phase.

Lilith Games is headquartered in Shanghai, has studios in Beijing and Shenzhen, and subsidiaries in Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Founded in 2013, it has more than 2,300 employees globally and exceeded $1 billion in turnover in 2023. Among the main videogames developed by the Chinese studio are Rise of Kingdoms and AFK Arena.