The9’s AI-Developed Mobile Game The Greed of Man Tops Hong Kong Simulation Charts

The9 Limited has announced that its AI-developed mobile simulation game, The Greed of Man, reached No. 1 in the Simulation Games category on both the Hong Kong Apple App Store and Google Play following its official launch on September 24, 2026.

The milestone represents an important step in The9’s efforts to turn its artificial intelligence capabilities into commercially released gaming products.

Developed Using The9’s AI Game Production Platform

The Greed of Man was developed using the9bit, The9’s proprietary AI game production platform.

Rather than depending on a single foundation model, the9bit is designed to coordinate multiple AI models and specialized workflows throughout the game development process. Creators can begin with an idea expressed through natural language or an image, which the platform transforms into a structured production blueprint.

Its orchestration engine then coordinates tasks such as content generation, asset creation, debugging, and integration across different AI models. The platform also includes an AI-native editing environment that allows developers to modify gameplay elements, parameters, and visual assets through natural-language instructions.

According to The9, combining foundation models with its proprietary orchestration and production layer is intended to reduce development cycles while making game production more efficient and scalable.

From Development to Commercial Launch

The company said the game was completed in approximately eight months, compared with the two-to-three-year development period it says a traditional production model could typically require.

The launch provides The9 with an opportunity to evaluate how AI-assisted workflows can be applied across the broader game development lifecycle, from initial concepts and asset creation to debugging, iteration and commercial release.

The9 CEO George Lai described the launch as an important milestone for the company's AI strategy, noting that the development process also produced reusable workflows and production knowledge that could potentially support future titles.

Built Around a Recognized Chinese-Language IP

The Greed of Man is based on the iconic television intellectual property licensed from Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB).

The original The Greed of Man drama has maintained a strong following among Chinese-speaking audiences for more than three decades, giving the mobile game an established entertainment property around which to build its gaming experience.

Mainland China Expansion Planned

Following its Hong Kong launch, The9 plans to introduce The Greed of Man to mainland China in the near future.

The expansion would bring the game to a substantially larger market while allowing The9 to further leverage the recognition of the franchise among Chinese audiences.

What This Means for AI in Game Development

The launch highlights an emerging approach to game production in which AI is integrated across multiple stages rather than being limited to individual tasks such as concept generation or asset creation.

For developers and studios, multi-model AI workflows could support faster prototyping, content production, debugging, and iteration. However, the commercial performance of AI-developed games will ultimately depend on factors beyond production speed, including gameplay quality, player retention, IP strength, monetization, and market execution.

The9’s The Greed of Man provides an example of how an AI-focused production pipeline is being applied to a commercially released mobile game.

Source: tradingview.com

Experts Insights

AI is moving beyond individual development tasks toward integrated production workflows covering ideation, asset creation, debugging and iteration. The Greed of Man demonstrates how an AI-powered pipeline can be applied to an actual commercial mobile release.

For a game development company, such workflows could help teams accelerate prototyping and production while allowing developers to focus more heavily on gameplay design, creative direction, and player experience.

Key Takeaway: AI-assisted development is increasingly becoming a production strategy rather than simply a standalone development tool.