iQIYI is actively driving the industrialization of virtual production technology in China, a commitment demonstrated at its inaugural Virtual Production Open Day in Hengdian. The event gathered nearly 200 film and television professionals and highlighted iQIYI's pragmatic strategy: developing efficient, user-friendly tools that make advanced production technology more accessible and economically viable for creators across the industry.
Quick Intel
iQIYI hosted its first Virtual Production Open Day, showcasing its IQStage platform.
The company's virtual production projects grew by 125% year-over-year in 2025.
iQIYI has reduced daily virtual studio rental rates to RMB 35,000 to boost accessibility.
It was the first in China to use virtual production for commercial drama series.
The platform integrates over 20 patented technologies for immersive filmmaking.
iQIYI is integrating AI for tasks like concept art generation and 3D scene scanning.
Transforming the Content Production Landscape
iQIYI is rapidly changing how content is made in China by making virtual production a practical reality. The technology's adoption is surging, with iQIYI's projects increasing by 125% year-over-year and culminating in its first full-cycle collaboration on a major theatrical film. A key to this growth has been cost reduction; by cutting daily studio rates to RMB 35,000, iQIYI has removed a significant financial barrier, allowing more productions to leverage the benefits of virtual stages. Since pioneering its use for commercial dramas in 2021, iQIYI has powered over a dozen projects through its patented innovations in color matching, lighting, and automated compensation algorithms.
Accelerating Creativity and Efficiency
The core value of virtual production lies in its ability to merge technology with artistic imagination, giving creators unprecedented control. The technology allows directors and art directors to visualize and adjust complex shots in real-time, making expansive fantasy worlds and high-impact scenes achievable without extensive location shooting. This synergy between the technical and creative teams is fundamental to successful virtual production, enabling storytellers to focus on expanding their creative possibilities rather than being limited by logistical constraints.
The Role of AI and Future Outlook
Looking forward, iQIYI is integrating artificial intelligence to further accelerate the virtual production workflow. AI is being applied from pre-production for automated concept art generation to advanced 3D Gaussian Splatting for rapid scene scanning. This AI-driven approach, combined with a proprietary digital asset library of over 30,000 items, supports a seamless blend of digital and physical elements, as seen in upcoming series like "Shadow Punisher." iQIYI's strategy encourages the adoption of virtual production from the earliest scriptwriting phases, fostering a new wave of innovation and groundbreaking creativity in Chinese film and television.
Through its industrialized and intelligent approach, iQIYI is solidifying its role as a cross-industry innovator. By providing the tools, technology, and accessible pricing, the company is not just improving production efficiency but is fundamentally partnering with creators to chart new creative horizons for the entire entertainment industry.
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