RPGs continued to define China’s livestreaming ecosystem in November 2025, according to data from the Niko Partners China Games & Livestreaming Tracker. Using the Niko Index, a proprietary metric designed to estimate total viewership across games, streamers, and platforms, the tracker shows that anime-style RPGs accounted for some of the most significant gains in monthly viewership. Major version updates and preview livestreams were the primary catalysts, reinforcing the role of live broadcasts as a core promotional and engagement tool in China’s gaming market.
Version Updates Drive Wuthering Waves’ Viewership Surge
Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves posted one of the strongest performances of the month. The free-to-play RPG, available across mobile, PC, and console, drew an estimated 36.5 million viewers in November, representing a 103% increase compared to October. This growth pushed the game to a #14 ranking overall, up from #24 in the prior month.
Much of the momentum came from the Version 2.8 preview livestream, which aired simultaneously on Bilibili, Huya, and Douyu at 19:00 on November 14. Viewership spiked sharply on the same day, with Bilibili alone generating 20.4 million views. The subsequent launch of Version 2.8 on November 20 marked the conclusion of the game’s 2.0 update cycle, further sustaining interest throughout the month.
Zenless Zone Zero Follows a Similar Livestream Strategy
miHoYo’s Zenless Zone Zero mirrored this pattern with its own coordinated livestream rollout. The free-to-play cross-platform RPG recorded 30.9 million viewers in November, an 84% month-over-month increase, and climbed to #19 in the overall rankings from #25 in October.
The Version 2.4 preview livestream aired at 19:30 on November 14 across the same major platforms, triggering another immediate spike in viewership. On Bilibili alone, the broadcast attracted 18.8 million views in a single day. The full Version 2.4 update launched on November 26, adding new events, playable characters, and story developments that helped maintain audience engagement beyond the initial reveal.
Why Bilibili Matters for Anime-Style RPGs
The success of both Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero highlights Bilibili’s growing importance in China’s RPG livestreaming landscape. With a younger audience and deep ties to ACGN culture, the platform has become a key venue for anime-style game announcements. Coordinated livestreams across multiple platforms remain common, but Bilibili consistently emerges as the single largest driver of peak-day viewership during major update reveals.
Stella Sora Shows Breakout Growth After Early Updates
Not all of November’s gains came from established franchises. Yostar’s Stella Sora, a free-to-play RPG available on mobile and PC, recorded one of the largest percentage increases in the tracker. The game reached 9.0 million viewers in November, a 1,721% jump from October, moving its overall ranking from #191 to #39.
This surge followed the game’s first major content update on November 18, released shortly after its open beta debut on October 20. The update expanded the story, introduced new characters and cosmetic items, and added limited-time in-game events with rewards, giving livestream audiences clear reasons to tune in as the title established its early footprint in the market.
Livestreaming Remains Central to RPG Growth in China
November’s data reinforces a familiar trend in China’s gaming ecosystem: RPG viewership is closely tied to well-timed content updates and high-visibility livestream events. As developers continue to rely on synchronized broadcasts to reveal new features and narrative content, anime-style RPGs are likely to remain a consistent presence at the top of China’s livestreaming charts.
Source: Niko Partners
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the China Games & Livestreaming Tracker?
The China Games & Livestreaming Tracker is a report by Niko Partners that monitors game viewership across major Chinese livestreaming platforms using the Niko Index.
What is the Niko Index?
The Niko Index is a proprietary metric that estimates total viewership by aggregating data across games, streamers, and categories on multiple platforms.
Why did RPGs perform so well in November 2025?
RPGs saw strong performance due to major version updates, preview livestreams, and post-launch content releases that drove short-term spikes and sustained interest.
Which platforms matter most for RPG livestreams in China?
Bilibili, Huya, and Douyu are all important, but Bilibili consistently generates the highest peak-day viewership for anime-style RPG announcements.
What caused Stella Sora’s rapid growth in viewership?
Stella Sora’s growth was driven by its first major content update following its open beta launch, which introduced new story content, characters, and limited-time events.
