JIYI (SOON)
Category: AI in Media / Gaming / Entertainment
AI-native, full-process game creation platform that turns natural-language prompts into playable 2D/mini-game projects. JIYI (SOON) was founded in 2025. The company is led by Tan Kai (谭凯). Based in Hangzhou, China. Total funding raised: $14M. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Kingnet Network (恺英网络), Bigo Group (比高集团), Zhongxu Future (中旭未来), Hengdian Capital (横店资本), Insight Capital (见识资本).
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- Hangzhou, China
- Total funding
- $14M
Value proposition
Lets non-technical creators generate a complete, playable game (logic, code framework, art, animation, scenes, UI) from natural-language descriptions in minutes to hours, drastically cutting game development cost and cycle time.
Products and solutions
SOON — AI full-process game creation platform (text-to-game), SOON Fx — AI game numerical/economy design engine, proprietary game-industry-specialized large model plus '形意' (Xingyi) model (developed with parent Kingnet), supports 2D and expanding to 3D, mobile/PC/console formats.
Unique value
Claimed world-first video-generation-to-game plus AI-native full pipeline covering code, art, animation, and game logic — reported 3,000+ tester-built projects in 45 days post-launch and games shipped in as little as 15-20 days at a fraction of traditional cost.
Target customer
Independent game developers, small studios, and non-technical creators; increasingly positioning toward mid/large commercial game teams as a pipeline-embedded tool.
Industries served
Gaming / Interactive Entertainment, AI-generated content (AIGC) for game production
Technology advantage
Proprietary game-vertical fine-tuned large model (trained specifically on game logic/behavior-tree/asset data) rather than a generic LLM wrapper; backed by parent company Kingnet Network's in-house '形意' model and game industry data; in-house engine expertise (founder built Sirius2D/Fe2d engines).
How they differentiate
Deep vertical specialization in games (behavior trees, game logic, numerical design via SOON Fx) vs. generic AI content generators; backed by a listed gaming conglomerate's proprietary data and models rather than being a pure startup wrapper.
Main competitors
TapTap Maker (ByteDance/TapTap's AI game creation tool), NetEase and Perfect World internal AI game-dev tooling, global AI game-gen tools (e.g., Rosebud AI)
Key partnerships
01.AI / 零一万物 (Kai-Fu Lee's company) — deep cooperation announced Nov 2025 to jointly develop a game-industry large model, strategic backing/collaboration from parent Kingnet Network (恺英网络, SZ:002517), Bigo Group (比高集团, HK:08220, Stephen Chow-linked), Zhongxu Future (中旭未来, HK:09890), and Hengdian Capital (横店资本).
Major milestones
Founded Feb 28, 2025 as a spinout from Kingnet Network's internal AI team, beta ('小规模上线测试') launched ~July 30, 2025 and quickly went viral in gaming circles, selected into China's '2025 National Digital China Construction Excellent Application Case', announced deep cooperation with 01.AI (零一万物) in Nov 2025, completed two funding rounds within one year of founding, CEO Tan Kai confirmed active as of July-August 2026 employee letter and awards coverage.
Growth metrics
3,000+ game projects created by testers within 45 days of beta launch (per TechNode); example indie project reportedly built in 15 days for under ¥20,000 and gained 20,000+ players within 9 days of launch.
Market positioning
Positions itself as the leading full-process AI game creation platform in China, moving from 'concept demo' generation to commercially shippable titles; recognized in 2025 national 'Digital China' excellent application case.
Geographic focus
China domestic gaming market primarily, with stated ambition toward global AI game creation leadership.
About Tan Kai (谭凯)
Head of AI Large Model, Kingnet Network (恺英网络AI大模型负责人); Founder of an HTML5 game developer community; creator of open-source game engines Sirius2D and Fe2d; contributor to the Starling open-source plugin; 12+ years of experience in game engines and AI.
Latest news about JIYI (SOON)
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Official website: https://soonjy.com/