Pixel Sundays: Sleeping Dogs – Hong Kong Thriller, Shattered Dreams & a Hint of the Future

In 2012, Sleeping Dogs catapulted itself to the top of the open-world genre thanks to its relentless martial arts gameplay, dense Hong Kong atmosphere, and a gripping story. Even though the franchise is a bit older now and hasn’t seen new games for a long time, it remains a perfect fit for our Pixel Sundays article.

Summary

The game was originally conceived as True Crime: Hong Kong but ultimately became a standalone project. Even though the franchise has huge potential, planned sequels and movie adaptations failed – but recent developments have given us renewed hope for a Sleeping Dogs revival.

The Original Game – Wei Shen’s Brutal Undercover Mission

Sleeping Dogs was released worldwide on August 14, 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game was initially part of the True Crime series (under the working title True Crime: Hong Kong) but was cancelled by Activision in 2011. Square Enix then acquired the rights and launched it as a standalone title.

You play as Wei Shen, a Chinese-American undercover cop who returns to Hong Kong. His mission is to infiltrate and dismantle the Sun On Yee triad organization. But the mission isn’t as straightforward as he expected: moral dilemmas constantly arise, and he forms genuine bonds with gang members. At the same time, he continues to gather evidence against them.

Throughout the story, his loyalty is repeatedly questioned, and he must prove himself. All this takes a psychological toll on him. The narrative was widely praised for blending gangster clichés with personal drama. It drew inspiration from Asian crime films like Infernal Affairs.

Sleeping Dogs combines mechanics from multiple genres. There is the hand-to-hand combat, with a dynamic martial arts system comparable to Batman: Arkham. You can perform combos, counter enemy attacks, and use brutal environmental takedowns. But you’re not limited to melee: firearms feature familiar third-person shooter mechanics with slow-motion jumps.

The world is large and encourages free movement. The protagonist has parkour skills and can freely climb and vault, similar to Assassin’s Creed. You can also drive cars and motorcycles, with street races and high-speed chases. A core aspect of the gameplay is the balance between police work, such as hacking surveillance cameras, and criminal missions.

The setting is a detailed and atmospheric recreation of Hong Kong, albeit scaled down. Districts such as North Point and Central are modeled after real neighborhoods. The game also offers a dynamic day-night cycle with realistic weather. Crowded streets, neon signs, markets, and food stalls create an authentic backdrop.

The game received very positive reviews on Metacritic and elsewhere. Metacritic scores:

• PC: 84/100
• PS3: 83/100
• Xbox 360: 80/100

It was praised especially for its story, characters, combat system, and world design. Criticism focused on the side missions, which many found repetitive, and the technical performance, which wasn’t top-notch on consoles. In its first months, the game sold about 1.5 million copies, falling well below Square Enix’s expectations. However, sales were later boosted by digital distribution and the Definitive Edition.

Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition (2014) – More Hong Kong, but Mixed Feedback

The Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition was released in October 2014 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It is an enhanced re-release that made the game more accessible to console players. This also made the title more profitable in the long run.

The Definitive Edition included the main game along with all previously released DLCs:

• Nightmare in North Point (horror mode)
• Year of the Snake (new story campaign)
• Zodiac Tournament (tournament island)
• Various equipment and vehicle packs

Visually, the game was also significantly improved. It featured higher-resolution textures, denser crowds, and enhanced lighting and shadow effects. On the technical side, it received more stable framerate and faster loading times on PS4 and Xbox One. On PC, the content was the same, but graphical improvements were minimal, since the original PC version was already high-resolution.

For console players, this was definitely the best version of Sleeping Dogs. The overall package was very positively reviewed thanks to all the included content. The atmosphere also became noticeably richer and better.

Negative aspects affected PC players, as the improvements were minimal. Many reviewers stated it wasn’t worth buying the game a second time if you already owned the original. Some bugs and clipping issues also remained. According to Metacritic, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition scored:

• PS4: 77/100
• Xbox One: 75/100
• PC: 75/100

Many critics described the Definitive Edition more as a “complete package for newcomers” than an essential repurchase for fans.

Cut Content & DLCs – Vampires, Kung Fu Tournaments & New Year Chaos

As already mentioned, the game included several DLCs. Overall, there were more than 30 DLC packs, many of which were cosmetic or small additions like the Vehicle Packs (e.g., “Street Racer Pack”, “Drunken Fist Pack”), Outfits & Combat Animations (e.g., Bruce Lee outfit, new martial arts moves), and Weapon Packs (e.g., gold-plated guns). Some DLCs were exclusive pre-order bonuses at different retailers, but later most were bundled in the Dragon Master Pack. According to developer interviews, multiple missions were cut, including a larger plotline about corrupt Hong Kong politicians. Parts of the original True Crime connections also disappeared during the rebranding.

Let’s now look at the major DLCs. First up is Nightmare in North Point, a horror story expansion. Shen has to fight in an alternate, supernatural version of Hong Kong, facing undead Triads, ghost cats, and the demon Smiley Cat. He has risen to seek revenge. This DLC was inspired by Hong Kong ghost films of the 80s and 90s with lots of neon colors, distorted reality effects, and eerie music.

The Zodiac Tournament DLC is a homage to classic Kung Fu films à la Bruce Lee. You are invited to a remote island where an illegal martial arts competition takes place. This DLC introduced new fighting styles, arenas, and opponents with unique movesets. The story and visuals were deliberately designed with 70s clichés in mind. Many fans consider this one of the most creative DLCs.

The last major DLC we’ll cover today is Year of the Snake. This is a story DLC set directly after the main game. Wei Shen returns to duty as an official police officer. His mission is to stop a radical cult group that plans bomb attacks during Chinese New Year. You can expect new police missions, bomb defusals, and arrest and clearance scenarios.

The Cancelled Sleeping Dogs Sequel & Triad Wars

As early as 2013, United Front Games started working on Sleeping Dogs 2. The concept was very ambitious and aimed to offer a larger world. The setting was planned to be the Pearl River Delta, covering not only Hong Kong but also mainland China. The mission design was intended to be much more open and dynamic.

The game was planned to have two playable main characters, Wei Shen, whom we know from the first game, and a new protagonist offering a different perspective on life in Hong Kong. You would have been able to monitor city districts with features like resource management and coordinated informants. There was also supposed to be a morality system with consequences that impacted the world.

But even though a detailed prototype existed, the project was canceled in late 2013, before it was officially pitched to Square Enix. The reason was doubts about profitability, as the sales figures for the first game did not meet expectations.

However, United Front Games did not give up on the franchise. In September 2014, they announced Triad Wars. This was a free-to-play online spin-off set in the same universe as Sleeping Dogs.

In the game, you were meant to build your own triad empire. You had to take over territories, expand resources, and fight rivals. There was a mix of third-person combat, base management, and multiplayer competition with other players. The focus was more on the persistent online world than on story.

In spring 2015, a closed beta took place. Community feedback was mixed—many praised the combat system, but others criticized the weak progression, technical issues, and the lack of depth compared to the story game. In January 2016, Triad Wars was officially shut down. One developer stated: “We knew the risks of building an online open world game and we’re sorry we couldn’t make it the game you wanted.”

United Front Games managed to stay afloat until 2016, but after another project (Smash+Grab) fell through, the studio lacked the financial foundation for future work. In October 2016, the studio closed for good.

Fan Community & Cult Status

Among fans, Sleeping Dogs has always been highly popular. To this day, it’s praised for its believable, gripping undercover story. The game emotionally engages players more strongly than many other open-world games. Its authentic Hong Kong setting is also frequently praised. Additionally, the martial arts combat system is still regarded as one of the best in any open-world title. The counter mechanics and smooth animations remain especially popular.

Sleeping Dogs Film Plans & Simu Liu Revival

In March 2017, it was officially announced that a Sleeping Dogs feature film was in development. Donnie Yen, known from Ip Man and Rogue One, was set to play Wei Shen. The movie was to be produced by Original Film, the studio behind Fast & Furious. The concept centered on an undercover cop infiltrating the triads, with a focus on martial arts action in Hong Kong. They aimed to create an “authentic adaptation” of the source material.

After the film was announced, there were almost no updates for years. In 2020, it was revealed that the project had been restarted multiple times due to financing and licensing issues. In January 2025, the film was officially canceled, after no studio was willing to take on international distribution.

Simu Liu, star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, gave fans new hope when he expressed his interest in the franchise. He said that Sleeping Dogs deserves a modern cinematic treatment and that he would love to be part of it. He is interested in both a film adaptation and possibly a return of the game.

There are now many rumors about a new concept meant to attract international investors. This could potentially be linked to a game sequel, as a successful film or series would make a new title much more likely. However, there are no contracts or green lights yet.

Present & Future – Will Hong Kong Burn Again?

The Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition still has more than 400 daily players on SteamDB, even after all these years. Over the past 12 months, the peak was nearly 4,000 players, often driven by sales. For a single-player title from 2012/2014, these are very solid numbers—similar to Mafia II Remastered or L.A. Noire.

Thanks to the potential film adaptation with Simu Liu, there is renewed hope for the franchise. He wants to revive it through a movie and perhaps a new game. There’s real potential for cross-media campaigns and an entirely new audience.

Conclusion – Cult Classic, Yet Unfinished

Sleeping Dogs managed to win over many players with its unique blend of hard-hitting martial arts gameplay, authentic Hong Kong setting, and emotionally gripping undercover narrative. Even though sales figures and canceled projects kept setting the franchise back, it still lives on in a dedicated community.

Whether it’s a film or a new game, the recurring rumors and high-profile supporters like Simu Liu show that interest has never disappeared. Maybe Sleeping Dogs will one day get the second chance it deserves. Until then, it remains an unfinished cult classic that has secured its place in open-world history.

MORE RELEVANT ARTICLES