On August 28, 2025, nearly 150,000 players flocked to Shanghai to celebrate the 16th anniversary of JX3, one of China's most iconic MMORPGs. Developed and operated by Seasun Games for 16 years, this blockbuster wuxia (martial arts fantasy) title has crafted a richly immersive virtual world known as the Jianghu, a realm of martial heroes, shifting alliances and poetic ideals. Praised for its deep cultural roots and uniquely warm social fabric, JX3 has fostered one of the most close-knit and enduring player communities in the Chinese gaming landscape.

The celebration also delivered a string of headline-making crossover announcements.

Alongside collaborations with two intangible cultural heritage icons from southeast China's Quanzhou City, traditional marionette puppetry and zanhuawei (the art of intricate floral headwear), a beloved favorite made its return: "Fighting for the Great Tang Empire," a Cantonese Opera adaptation of a JX3 storyline that earned widespread acclaim among younger audiences, is now back in a brand new way. Titled "Blaze: For the Glory of the Tang Empire," the new production officially launched its ticket sales at the event. It is helmed by Peng Qinghua, president and leading actor of the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe, winner of the prestigious China's Plum Blossom Award, and co-initiator of the original production, who returns as chief planner and lead performer.

Even more buzzworthy was the announcement of an upcoming crossover with Ubisoft's legendary IP, Assassin's Creed: Dynasty, along with a surprise collaboration with celebrated designer Ethan Reed, known for creating fan-favorite Disney characters like LinaBell and StellaLou. These reveals electrified the entire venue, turning excitement into a full-blown cultural storm.

In a post-event interview, Guo Weiwei, CEO of Seasun Games and producer of the JX3 series, emphasized that the heart of cross-IP collaboration lies in bridging fan communities and fostering cultural exchange.

Speaking on the newly announced crossover with Assassin's Creed: Dynasty, Guo expressed his hopes that the collaboration would serve as a gateway for more international and domestic players to explore the rich, immersive wuxia universe that JX3 has cultivated over the years.

When reflecting on the return of the Cantonese opera crossover, Guo recalled the landmark collaboration a decade ago with "Fighting for the Great Tang Empire." He highlighted it as proof that "traditional culture can absolutely integrate with things that resonate with younger audiences – and when it does, it sparks real passion."