First things first! Can you please introduce yourself and describe your role at FunPlus?

“Hi! I’m Zhixin Xu, but everyone at FunPlus calls me Stacy. I’m part of the IP Management team, where I focus on coordinating and driving global IP collaborations for one of our flagship titles, State of Survival.

My role spans scouting iconic brands to managing the creative and operational workflows that bring these crossovers to life. Essentially, I’m the person connecting the dots between pop culture and post-apocalyptic strategy gaming — and making sure the experience feels just right for our players.”

Let’s dig into the successful IP Collaborations! Please share with us how it works! 🙂

How do you go about selecting partners for collaborations? And what criteria do you use to ensure they are the right fit for FunPlus and our games?

“We start by asking one key question: ‘Will this excite our players?’

From there, we look at several factors:

• Cultural relevance – Is this IP widely recognized, or does it resonate with specific passionate communities?
• Thematic alignment – Can this brand naturally fit into the world of State of Survival, either through its tone, characters, or lore?
• Creative potential – Does the collaboration give us enough room to design meaningful gameplay and narrative elements, not just cosmetic skins?
• And of course—budget. Some of the most exciting ideas can also be the most expensive ones, so we always aim for a balance between impact and feasibility.

We’re not just looking for “big names” — we want partnerships that feel organic, impactful, and achievable within our resources.”

Since aligning the IP´s storyline with the world of State of Survival is key, what steps do you take to ensure a seamless integration?

“Unlike narrative-driven games, State of Survival is a 4X strategy title, so we don’t rely heavily on traditional storytelling components.

But we do believe every player has their own story in the game — and we try to make IP integrations enhance that personal journey.

As part of the IP management team, I usually start with in-depth research. This helps me fully understand the IP, including what matters most to the fans and licensors. Based on that, I provide creative and strategic suggestions to our development team.

In a way, I serve as a bridge — connecting the world of the IP with the gameplay systems we already have, and helping the two feel cohesive even without a scripted storyline.”

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when managing IP collaborations, and how do you overcome them?

“One of the most challenging parts is managing feedback and revisions from the IP owners — especially when it comes from multiple stakeholders.

Sometimes the feedback can be unclear or even conflicting, and timelines can get really tight. It can get messy fast.

To address this, I’ve created a structured feedback tracker internally, where we log every version, every comment, and who it’s from. It helps us stay organized, avoid miscommunication, and ensure that we’re aligning with the licensor’s vision while still hitting our internal deadlines.

It’s not always perfect, but having clear documentation and transparent communication has made a big difference in how smoothly things run.”

And… here’s a difficult question… what has been your favorite collaboration so far, and why?

“My personal favorite has to be Tomb Raider.

I’ve been a fan of the franchise for years — from the games to the movies — so it was truly special to bring Lara Croft into State of Survival.

But beyond that, what really stood out was the way the licensor approached the collaboration. They were incredibly supportive and genuinely passionate about the brand. You could feel their emotional connection to Tomb Raider, and that made the whole process more meaningful for all of us.

It reminded me that the best collaborations happen not just because of IP value, but because of shared passion and respect.”

Stacy – from FunPlus’s IP Management team

The State of Survival community has warmly embraced the collaboration, with players thrilled to fight alongside T-800 and Sarah Connor!

From an IP management standpoint, how did you know it would be a great fit?! 😀 What makes Terminator 2: Judgment Day a great match for the State of Survival world?

“We had a strong feeling from the very beginning that Terminator 2 would be a perfect fit for State of Survival.

It’s a classic post-apocalyptic story, with iconic characters like the T-800 and Sarah Connor — both of whom naturally resonate with the world we’ve built in State of Survival. The themes of survival, rebellion, and resilience are universal, and they align seamlessly with our game’s core.

From an IP management perspective, we evaluated not just the popularity of the IP, but also its tonal alignment and character adaptability. Terminator 2 checked all the boxes — visually, narratively, and emotionally.”

About FunPlus

FunPlus is one of the largest privately held companies in all of gaming. Founded in 2010, it is a global creator of interactive entertainment experiences powered by technology, with cross-platform game development and IP creation at its core.  FunPlus is an organization that fosters top industry talent, with around 2,000 team members based in offices and studios across three continents. These talented creative teams are well-known for developing hugely popular cross-platform titles, including DC: Dark Legion, State of Survival, King of Avalon, Guns of Glory, Stormshot,  Sea of Conquest, Misty Continent, Tiles Survive, and Foundation: Galactic Frontier.

FunPlus Social Media channels

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (Twitter)
• Spotify

IT STARTS WITH YOU!

At FunPlus, we are passionate about creating entertaining experiences, surrounding ourselves with the best and brightest talent, and providing them with the opportunity to do their best work. Think you have what it takes? Check out our career opportunities and join us!

▶ Open positions: https://funplus.info/WeAreHiring