The Chinese Zhuang folk song music kit "Ay Hey" was launched in the iconic tactical first-person shooter Counter-Strike (CS), renowned for its competitive gameplay and large esports community, on November 28, 2024.
It became the second Chinese music kit to be featured in the game, and the first one in a Chinese ethnic minority language. Millions of CS players worldwide can now enjoy the unique sounds of Chinese folk songs and experience the cultural heritage.
The official poster of Zhuang folk song music kit in CS, mimicking the karst landform in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. /Courtesy of Perfect World
"Ay Hey" fuses Zhuang folk songs, an intangible cultural heritage of China, with modern electronic music. The combination of folk and electronic elements gives the song a simple yet narrative quality while maintaining an energetic rhythm, designed to resonate with players of all ages and from different regions. The name "Ay Hey" comes from an interjection in the song, often used by players in the game to express joy or pride when winning or teasing each other.
The "Ay Hey" music kit in CS game. /Courtesy of Perfect World
According to the CS China server operation team, Perfect World Esports, the music creators include Lu Shunhong, Yu Xianzhuan and other representative inheritors of Zhuang Yao Song, as well as teachers from Guangxi Arts University. In "Ay Hey," both the male and female vocal elements were recognized as intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Additionally, the track features the Zhuang instrument called Bolie, a beautiful-sounding instrument that resembles a suona but is softer and sweeter in tone. These three elements, all from representative Zhuang ethnic culture, give the song a distinct, authentic Zhuang musical flavor.
Apart from this music kit, another Chinese music box titled "Hua Lian (Painted Face)" was released in 2022, which combines Shaanxi Qinqiang Opera and rock music, attracting significant global attention.
The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 is being held in Shanghai Municipality in east China from November 30 to December 15, 2024. This event marks a significant milestone as it is the first Major held in Asia, showcasing the growing influence of esports in the region and providing an opportunity for local audiences to experience a premier international tournament firsthand. Twenty-four teams will qualify from regional qualifiers for the tournament, which will include a prize pool of $1,250,000.