What BluEpoch does

BluEpoch (深蓝互动 / BLUEPOCH) is a privately held Chinese game development company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Guangzhou, with a secondary operating entity in Shanghai. The company designs and self-publishes narrative-driven role-playing games targeted at ACGN (Animation, Comic, Game, Novel) enthusiasts and female-oriented gaming audiences, with its flagship title 'Reverse: 1999' (重返未来：1999) — a modern-mysticism themed fantasy adventure RPG set in 1999 — serving as the core of its portfolio. Supporting infrastructure includes an official custom PC desktop simulator, a user account center, an in-game recharge/payment system, and a QQ community integration layer that anchors social engagement.

The company's revenue model is freemium free-to-play with gacha-style aesthetic microtransactions, explicitly positioned as non-pay-to-win in a manner comparable to HoYoverse. Distribution spans the iOS App Store, direct Android APK download from the official site, a custom PC simulator, and TapTap in China, with globally coordinated timezone-aware release schedules indicating meaningful international reach. Go-to-market is product-led combined with community-led: the company operates official presences on Weibo, WeChat, QQ, TapTap, Bilibili, Discord, Xiaohongshu, YouTube, and a Tmall merchandise storefront to drive engagement and brand monetization.

Core technology, proprietary features, patents, and any AI/ML infrastructure are not publicly disclosed. The company maintains required Chinese regulatory licenses — including a Network Culture Business License, Value-Added Telecommunications Business License, ICP filing, and public security recordal — and participates in the Online Gaming Parental Monitoring Program, operating under an age rating of 12+. Leadership consists of CEO Zhou Jian; broader management team, ownership structure, and external investors are not disclosed in the available data.

Name

BluEpoch

Legal name

广州深蓝互动网络科技有限公司

Website

https://bluepoch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BluEpoch is a privately held Chinese game developer founded in 2020 in Guangzhou that designs and self-publishes narrative-driven gacha RPGs, primarily its flagship title Reverse: 1999, for global ACGN and female-oriented gaming audiences via a freemium microtransaction model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Narrative RPG games
• Gacha gaming
• Female-oriented games
• ACGN game publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Guangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Free-to-play with microtransactions: BluEpoch follows the free-to-play model with aesthetic microtransactions, similar to HoYoverse's successful gacha-style monetization approach. Players can download and play the game for free, with revenue generated through optional in-game purchases including character pulls, cosmetics, and promotional content.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BluEpoch is a game developer that creates and publishes free-to-play narrative-driven fantasy RPGs, with its flagship title "Reverse: 1999" (重返未来：1999) — a modern-mysticism themed adventure RPG released on mobile (iOS/Android) and PC. The company monetizes via optional in-game microtransactions (character pulls, cosmetics, promotional content) and supplements gameplay with an official PC desktop emulator and an online recharge / account center. Distribution spans app stores, the company's own APK and PC emulator downloads, and the TapTap marketplace in China.

Product overview

BluEpoch operates as a game development company with a portfolio centered around its flagship title Reverse: 1999 (重返未来：1999), a modern mystery-themed fantasy adventure RPG. The company provides supplementary platforms including an official desktop emulator for PC play, a user account management center, and an in-game recharge/payment system. Additional community features include QQ group integration for player engagement. All products are available across multiple platforms including Android and iOS, with the company focusing on ACGN (Animation, Comic, Game, Novel) and female-oriented game content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reverse: 1999 (重返未来：1999) A modern mystery-themed fantasy adventure RPG independently developed by BluEpoch. Set in 1999, players take the role of 'Chronologist' investigating a mysterious 'Storm' that causes people to disappear. Available on iOS, Android, and PC.
• Official Custom Desktop Emulator (官方定制模拟器) An official desktop simulator customized for Reverse: 1999, allowing players to run the mobile game on PC with optimized performance and interface. Distributed via the company's official website.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kuro Games: Kuro Games develops Punishing: Gray Raven and Wuthering Waves, high-fidelity narrative-driven gacha action RPGs targeted at global audiences. The BluEpoch data explicitly names Kuro Games as a direct competitor in the gacha RPG market.
• Lilith Games: Lilith Games operates AFK Arena, Rise of Kingdoms, and Dislyte — F2P gacha/mobile RPGs with global distribution and similar live-ops mechanics. Comparable as a Chinese mobile gacha developer of similar size and global orientation.
• miHoYo (HoYoverse's studio brand): The development studio behind HoYoverse's titles, based in Shanghai with a content-driven, art-led approach to global F2P gacha. Its operating philosophy around long-running live service, art, and global localization is the closest direct analogue to BluEpoch's model.
• HoYoverse (miHoYo): HoYoverse operates Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Honkai Impact 3rd — all F2P gacha RPGs with strong narrative, art direction, and global release cadence, the same category as Reverse: 1999. The BluEpoch data explicitly cites HoYoverse's monetization approach as the reference model for BluEpoch's own gacha design.
• Papergames: Papergames specializes in female-oriented dress-up and narrative gacha titles (Shining Nikki, Love Nikki-Dress UP Queen, Mr. Love: Queen's Choice) and is the most direct comparable in the female-oriented ACGN gacha niche BluEpoch targets.
• Hypergryph: Hypergryph develops Arknights and Arknights: Endfield, tower-defense and RPG gacha titles with strong art direction and global release. It is a comparable Chinese gacha studio with similar live-ops and narrative positioning to BluEpoch.

Emerging players

• Archosaur Games: Archosaur Games developed Mino Monsters, Gumballs & Dungeons, and the action RPG Punishing: Gray Raven (co-developer with Kuro), positioning it as a Chinese gacha/ARPG studio adjacent to BluEpoch's product category.

Broad incumbents

• NetEase Games: NetEase is one of China's largest game publishers with a deep portfolio of mobile gacha and RPG titles (Onmyoji, Identity V, Marvel Rivals). It is a broad incumbent whose mobile RPG portfolio overlaps with BluEpoch's narrative-driven F2P positioning.
• Tencent Games: Tencent is the largest Chinese game publisher (Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends) and a broad incumbent in mobile gaming. It competes with BluEpoch for ACGN and gacha player wallet share, both directly via internal studios and via its investments in rivals like Kuro Games.

Regional players

• Yostar: Yostar publishes and localizes Japanese and Chinese gacha titles (Arknights, Azur Lane, Mahjong Soul) for global audiences. It is comparable to BluEpoch as a channel for taking China-originated gacha IP to overseas markets, though Yostar is primarily a publisher rather than developer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BluEpoch