Thought we were done with announcements now that Summer Game Fest is behind us? Think again. While the big E3 replacement concluded almost two weeks ago, many publishers are still making big announcements, like Capcom and its upcoming showcase, or Xbox and its next-gen consoles. And this is confirmed again today with NetEase, which took everyone by surprise with the announcement of its new game: Blood Message.
NetEase launches into single-player games with Blood Message
Unveiled without warning in the middle of the night, the title developed by 24 Entertainment was indeed entitled to a beautiful and generous trailer which, let's say it bluntly, clearly sends a dream. Designed under Unreal Engine 5, Blood Message presents itself as a narrative action-adventure game which will officially mark the arrival of NetEase in the sphere of AAA single-player productions. Because yes, this will be a major first for the Chinese giant, until now known for its MMORPGs, online games and other free-to-play experiences.
"Blood Message presents a forgotten odyssey of loyalty and survival where players join the Dunhuang uprising, taking control of a nameless messenger and his young son," the studio explains about the game. "Caught in the crossfire of a righteous revolt and driven by loyalty to their family and country, players will embark on a perilous journey east to deliver a message that will determine the fate of their war-torn homeland. Amidst the shifting sands of history, they will carve one last story of loyalty.".
The story of Blood Message will take place more precisely during the last years of the Tang Dynasty, and will notably invite players to embark on a perilous journey of more than 1,500km leading them to return to the heart of the Tang Empire, to Chang'an. Desolate deserts, vast wildernesses and other deadly landscapes of Central and East Asia will be on the agenda in this great adventure, which will depict a whole section of Chinese history through its customs, culture and more.
A very promising action-adventure game
As for the gameplay, 24 Entertainment promises us a linear narrative experience, which will be based in particular on combat visceral swordplay reminiscent of Ghost of Tsushima, stealth sequences, and finally survival mechanics. But as the clips in the trailer attest, we can also expect explosive action and adventure sequences, reminiscent of the finest hours of Uncharted or the latest Tomb Raider games.
Moreover, as the studio specifies, the protagonists of Blood Message were written on a similar basis to that of Nathan Drake or Lara Croft. "The game invites players to step into the shoes of unsung heroes. Not emperors or generals, but ordinary people driven by extraordinary determination. […] Blood Message is an ode to unsung heroes." "We're ready to bring a truly epic and cinematic experience to gamers around the world," said Zhipeng Hu, Senior Producer and Executive Vice President of NetEase.
When we'll get our hands on it is a mystery. 24 Entertainment has so far only announced that Blood Message will be released on consoles and PC, without providing any further details.
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