Zhongshan based Subor, a Chinese hardware and electronics manufacturer, has announced a brand-new games console for the China market. Known as the Subor Z+, the console comes equipped with an AMD processor, 8GB of GDDR5 Memory, VR support and an RMB 4,998 ($730) price tag. The console was originally announced back in April with the goal to expand the domestic console market. Niko Partners attended ChinaJoy 2018 August 2-6, where we got to try out the console before it releases later in the month.

Subor’s history in China

Zhongshan-based Subor was the first console manufacturer to find success in China, back in the 1990s. The company originally launched a NES clone called ‘Little Tyrant’. The device was marketed as an educational toy and came with a keyboard that allowed players to type answers into specially created educational games. Jackie Chan was a spokesperson for the console, which boosted sales. The company continued to find success through to the end of the 1990s. Consoles were banned in the early 2000’s in China but that ban was overturned in 2014. Subor is now trying again to replicate the success it found during the 90’s with its new Z+ console.

Subor Z+ hardware

The Subor Z+ is a console that has been in the works for a number of years with the company investing RMB 400 million it is development. The specs for the console are listed below:

  • AMD Ryzen 4-core 8-thread 3Ghz + GPU Vega 24CUs; 4Tflops
  • 8GB GDDR5 Large Bandwidth Memory
  • 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
  • VR ready
  • Windows 10 + Subor ZPlus Game Platform based on Windows 10
  • ZPlus game store, Game DVR, one-click sharing, live streaming and other features
  • Support for gamepad, mouse, keyboards and all major gaming peripherals
  • Built-in dual-band ac WIFI, Bluetooth 4.1
  • SPDIF optical high-definition audio
  • Dual HDMI 2.0 interface fully supports VR, 4k60fps and HDCP1.4
  • 4 USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports
  • 4.9-litre mini size, built-in power supply

Whilst other domestic console manufacturers focused on low cost android-based consoles, Subor is looking to compete with high end consoles and has created the most powerful domestic games console on the market. At 4 teraflops the console has almost the same power as a PlayStation 4 Pro. The console is also VR ready although the company noted there were no VR games on its ZPlus game store just yet. More on the Subor console, games and how it fits into China’s console market can be found in Niko’s 2018 China Console & TV-based Games Market report.