SINCE its Aug. 20 release, “Black Myth: Wukong,” China’s first AAA single-player game, has taken the gaming world by storm, captivating players with its intense combat sequences, fluid character movements, and lifelike facial expressions.

This blockbuster game’s success has sparked a surge in demand for motion capture technology, which is vital to achieving realistic animation. Shenzhen companies, in collaboration with local research institutions, are making significant investments in this field and carving out a strong presence.

At a development conference for smart robotics that took place in Shenzhen on Tuesday, Noitom, a leading motion capture technology firm based in Beijing, demonstrated the technology in action. A person wearing sensor equipment performed physical movements that were instantly mirrored by a virtual character on a nearby computer screen with zero lag.

Noitom’s PR Manager, Tan Yuxin, explained that motion capture technology essentially digitizes human movement. “Its main applications are currently in film, animation, and gaming. With hardware like optical tracking cameras, sensor transmitters, and virtual cameras, motion capture can be used for virtual filming, rapid animation production, and real-time virtual character streaming,” Tan said.

Noitom has also teamed up with the Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to create a platform for developing “embodied intelligence training datasets” using motion capture and remote operation. “By leveraging large AI models, we can capture human movements and gather vast amounts of data to train robots. This enables them to smoothly perform tasks such as walking, running, jumping, grabbing, and placing objects autonomously,” Tan noted.

In a related development, on Aug. 20, Shenzhen-based Unilumin Group, a professional LED application provider, announced a strategic partnership with Pixotope, a global leader in virtual production solutions. Together, they aim to promote the digitization of film and television virtual production processes.

A Unilumin spokesperson revealed that the company has developed a non-wearable body motion capture system for real-time human movement tracking. This technology is primarily used for digital virtual humans and XR (extended reality) virtual filming, ensuring the company maintains technical control.

Another Shenzhen firm, Movision, has developed a full-body capture system that uses infrared optical technology to precisely track motion, facial expressions, and fine hand movements. This system achieves seamless synchronization between virtual characters and real-life actors. Movision’s representative mentioned that the company has provided high-precision motion capture solutions to clients like Huawei, Tencent, and Lenovo.

(Liu Yangyang)