ChinaJoy 2026: where cars, characters and games collide

ChinaJoy 2026 opened today at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. On the first day of the event, TechNode completed its first-round tour of the exhibition halls, exploring multiple areas covering automotive technology, gaming entertainment, and IP collaborations. This year’s ChinaJoy has evolved beyond a traditional gaming exhibition, with more companies integrating AI, smart hardware, automotive technology, and gaming content to create richer offline interactive experiences. From BYD’s integration of smart vehicles with game IPs, to PlayStation’s immersive gaming spaces, and themed experiences built around popular franchises by various game companies, the event showcased a more diverse entertainment ecosystem. From s how Cars to f ast c harging: BYD’s t ech c rossover At ChinaJoy 2026, BYD turned its booth into a showcase for both automotive technology and gaming. Instead of following the traditional auto show playbook, the company integrated its vehicles with digital entertainment, displaying multiple custom itasha (anime/game-themed car) cars alongside an immersive smart cockpit experience where visitors could step inside and play games using the in-car infotainment system. BYD showcased a special itasha (anime/game-themed car) based on the Denza Z9 GT, drawing attention from gaming and anime fans at the booth. The vehicle recreates the Asurada GSX, the iconic racing car driven by protagonist Hayato Kazami in the classic anime series Future GPX Cyber Formula (Shin Seiki GPX Cyber Formula). The car features original details from the anime, including the Japanese logo and SUGO and BADRIANT markings, which represent the teams and racing elements from the series. With Asurada’s signature white, blue, and red racing livery, retro-style wheel covers, and motorsport-inspired decals, the customized Denza Z9 GT blends new energy vehicle design with nostalgic anime racing culture. Another itasha (anime/game-themed car) based on the League of Legends champion Ekko was also showcased at the event. As a popular character from Riot Games’ MOBA title League of Legends, Ekko is known as the Boy Who Shattered Time (Time Assassin). The vehicle features a purple-themed livery, an EK logo representing Ekko, and elements from the League of Legends Pro League (LPL). It is an official themed display vehicle created through BYD’s collaboration with the game IP. Beyond the vehicles themselves, the company highlighted technologies including its flash charging system and the DiPilot advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). PlayStation b rings a Helldivers 2- t hemed i mmersive Sci-Fi e xperience The PlayStation booth featured an immersive interactive space under the theme PLAY HAS NO LIMITS. Among the highlights, Helldivers armor cosplayers from Helldivers 2 became one of the booth’s main attractions. The Helldivers, wearing the game’s iconic combat armor, created a sci-fi battlefield atmosphere that attracted visitors for photos and interactions as they patrolled the venue. The booth also continued the Dimensional Train arch design previously showcased at BW2026, bringing the visual concept to ChinaJoy with stage activities and character interactions to further enhance the immersive experience. Beyond the themed decorations and character interactions, PlayStation also offered hands-on demos of multiple PS5 titles, including Helldivers 2 and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, giving players a preview of upcoming releases. Goose Goose Duck × Jian Wang 3 c ollaboration m akes d ebut Kingsoft Games showcased a major collaboration between Goose Goose Duck and JX3 at its booth, featuring the theme Goose and Duck Heroes, Embarking on a Journey Through the Martial World. The visual design blended the distinctive elements of both IPs. The adorable geese and ducks were transformed into martial arts heroes, and the background recreated the traditional Chinese-style pavilions from JX3. As a popular multiplayer social deduction game, Goose Goose Duck is operated in China by Kingsoft Games. JX3 is a classic wuxia MMORPG developed by Kingsoft’s Seasun Games, and both titles are part of the broader Kingsoft ecosystem. This cross-IP collaboration not only creates a wuxia-themed offline experience, but will also introduce in-game content such as faction-themed skins and new gameplay features. Century Games p resents its d iverse g lobal g ame p ortfolio Stepping into Century Games’ booth, visitors were greeted by the theme Amazing Games, Connecting the World and a lineup of popular titles from different genres. One of the highlights was Whiteout Survival, the ice-and-snow survival SLG that returned to ChinaJoy for the third consecutive year. The game brought a winter-themed interactive zone to the booth, with its iconic polar bear mascot becoming a popular photo spot among players. The newly introduced medieval strategy simulation game Bennie Kingdom also made its first major offline appearance, inviting players to experience kingdom building and strategic management in a new setting. Meanwhile, the tower defense franchise Kingdom Rush brought its classic fantasy style to the booth, with a giant king character installation attracting fans to stop by and take photos. Through a mix of game demos, themed installations, and interactive experiences, Century Games highlighted its expanding global portfolio across strategy, survival simulation, tower defense, and other genres.