Blood Message, the first independently developed single-player AAA game from NetEase, finally debuted its playable version at SGF Play Days.

Set in the late Tang Dynasty of China in 848 AD, Blood Message is a third-person action-adventure game currently in development for PC and consoles. It is a linear, story-driven cinematic single-player experience that combines brutal, visceral combat with a deep, Eastern-inspired narrative.

The protagonist is not a legendary hero or a master martial artist, but an ordinary person. He embarks on a perilous journey to deliver a message that will determine the fate of his hometown, facing near-impossible odds alongside his son as they travel from the ancient city of Dunhuang to the Tang capital of Chang'an.

The demo lasted about 20 minutes, offering a brief look at the game's overall flow, combat, and stealth mechanics. Notably, the son did not appear in this demo version.

As a linear, story-driven game, the demo followed a strictly structured narrative path. While the player controls the protagonist's movement and combat, every action and progression point is tightly aligned with a pre-determined storyline.

The experience flows from cutscenes to gameplay, where the player moves along a set path, followed by another cutscene, a scripted battle, and then a stealth sequence to reach the next area. Of course, the player is the one actually moving the character, fighting, and performing assassinations.

As this is an early demo, much may change, but one striking feature is the absence of a UI. Aside from QTE prompts and control tutorials, there is no visible UI during gameplay or transitions from cutscenes.

This creates a seamless experience and naturally enhances immersion. While the story-driven linear game Senua's Saga: Hellblade II also allowed players to hide the entire UI, unlike Hellblade II, Blood Message still incorporates QTEs and control prompts as mentioned above.

Combat includes standard attacks, heavy attacks to counter shielded enemies, blocking, and dodging. The combat relies heavily on cinematic direction and QTEs, yet the manual input required for these actions still provides a satisfying sense of active participation.

In this demo, there was no visible health bar or skill system, which could have made the combat feel like a passive part of the story. However, because there were enough moments requiring player input, it felt more like playing a game than simply watching one.

The game's overall graphics and atmosphere are undeniably excellent, creating a high level of immersion that feels like playing through a Chinese film from start to finish.

However, as with most linear, story-driven games, you cannot freely explore or dictate the flow of the game. This is especially true for Blood Message, where cutscenes, cinematic shots, and gameplay are tightly compressed and sequenced. The developers seem to have used frequent QTEs and stealth actions to mitigate the potential monotony of such a rigid structure.

In an interview, the developers reaffirmed that Blood Message is a narrative-focused game. Consequently, they plan to utilize not only the chase sequences, QTEs, and combat shown in the demo but also puzzles and other gameplay styles to help players better understand the story. Specific gameplay elements will be revealed at a later date.

Blood Message is set against the backdrop of real historical events in the late Tang Dynasty rather than fantasy. The developers were deeply moved by this story, which is not widely known even within China. They view it as an untold tale and expressed a desire to share its spirit and emotional impact with players worldwide.

The choice to make the protagonist an ordinary person was intended to provide a unique perspective. The team wanted to tell the story not through the eyes of a famous hero or historical leader, but through those of an obscure, ordinary warrior.

The developers also felt that combat should support the narrative and the spirit of the work. Their goal was to deliver a brutal yet immersive experience. It was important that players feel the intensity of every clash, ensuring that combat serves a purpose beyond mere action. The combat I experienced was certainly heavily scripted, yet it maintained a consistent linear structure.

The developers stated that they want to tell their own story through Blood Message, and that delivering it in a way that allows players to be fully immersed is the reason NetEase is creating this game.

The team expressed a positive view on the recent trend of Chinese developers producing AAA-quality narrative experiences. They explained that they want to deliver their stories in a way that maximizes player immersion, utilizing various technical elements to achieve that goal.

At the same time, they cautiously noted that while they are honored to be part of this movement, they are still in the process of growing. They mentioned that they, too, grew up playing great AAA games and have long harbored dreams based on those experiences.

Meanwhile, Blood Message released a new story trailer at the SGF showcase, and the official website now features gameplay footage identical to the demo version.

NetEase's Blood Message is currently in development for PC and consoles. The release date has not yet been determined.