Blood Message, the first standalone AAA single-player game being developed by NetEase, finally debuted its playable demo 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 stealth takedowns.

As this is a very early demo, much may change, but one striking feature was the absence of a UI. Aside from QTE prompts and control tutorials, the screen remains completely free of UI elements during both cutscenes and active gameplay.

This creates a seamless experience and naturally enhances immersion. While the story-driven linear game Senua's Saga: Hellblade II also featured an option to hide the entire UI, unlike Hellblade II, Blood Message still includes 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 it still manages to feel like a hands-on experience thanks to these interactive elements.

In this demo, there was no visible health bar or skill system, which could have made the combat feel like a passive part of a cinematic sequence. However, because it required active input, it felt more like playing a game than simply watching one.

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

However, as with most linear, story-driven games, players cannot freely explore or dictate the flow of the game. This is especially true for Blood Message, where cutscenes, cinematic transitions, and gameplay are tightly compressed. The developers seem to mitigate this rigidity through frequent QTEs and stealth action sequences.

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

Blood Message is based on real historical events from the late Tang Dynasty rather than fantasy. The developers were deeply moved by this story, which they noted is not widely known even within China. They view it as an untold tale and hope to convey its spirit and emotional impact to players worldwide.

The choice to make the protagonist an ordinary person was intended to provide a unique perspective. Blood Message aims to tell its story through the eyes of an obscure, average warrior rather than a famous hero or historical leader.

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 the game's linear structure.

The developers stated that their reason for creating Blood Message is to share their story in a way that allows players to experience it with maximum immersion.

They 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 is deeply immersive for players, utilizing various technical elements to achieve that goal.

At the same time, they were humble, noting 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 of creating their own.

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

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