NetEase Games, the Chinese mega-publisher behind titles like Marvel Rivals and Sword of Justice, has announced its first-ever AAA single-player game, Blood Message.
Blood Message is a linear, cinematic, and story-driven single-player epic set during the final years of the Tang Dynasty. It’s developed by 24 Entertainment Studio, the same studio behind Naraka: Bladepoint. The game is clearly inspired by the Wuxia genre of Chinese film, which typically focuses on the exploits of martial artists in an ancient setting.
In Blood Message, you follow the Dunhuang uprising, assuming the role of a nameless messenger and his young son in a third-person adventure that takes you across a massive expanse of ancient China—from the vast, unforgiving wilderness of the East to deadly castle sieges. The duo must navigate a collapsing world, torn between their duty to the country and their love for family. A press release notes that players will step into “the shoes of unsung heroes—not emperors or generals—but ordinary people driven by extraordinary resolve.”
Blood Message is built on Unreal Engine 5 but is “enhanced with proprietary tools and technologies” by the studio. The game blends visceral third-person melee combat with stealth and survival mechanics.
“We are ushering players into a new generation of high adventure with Blood Message,” said Zhipeng Hu, Lead Producer and NetEase Executive Vice President in a press release “As our first completely single-player focused experience from NetEase Games, after two decades of deep dedication to the gaming industry, we are prepared to deliver a truly epic and cinematic experience for players around the world.”
Blood Message’s reveal trailer does look visually stunning, and it’s a compelling period of history that has a lot of depth to dig into. The game is part of a tremendous boom happening in Chinese video game development right now, especially in the single-player realm, alongside the likes of Black Myth Wukong and Phantom Blade Zero.
Blood Message is currently in development for PC and consoles.
