When it comes to the global gaming industry, China is now a bona fide powerhouse. The country has rapidly evolved into a major creative force, backed by growing pools of talent and increasingly deep financial investments. One of its biggest publishers, NetEase Games, has revealed its latest ambitious project in Blood Message, and it’s hitting the right notes already.
Unveiled as a narrative-driven, linear single-player action game, Blood Message will be a full-fledged AAA project. Built using Unreal Engine 5, the game marks NetEase’s first major foray into the single-player market, an area they have largely ignored until now.
What makes this announcement even more intriguing is the development studio behind the game. Rather than being crafted by one of the many international studios NetEase has acquired over the years, Blood Message is being developed internally by a new in-house subsidiary, 24 Entertainment Lin’an, located in China. This move signals NetEase’s growing confidence in its domestic talent and infrastructure.
The narrative of Blood Message is rooted in Chinese historical events, specifically the Dunhuang rebellion during the twilight of the Tang Dynasty. However, NetEase is deliberately steering away from the more fantastical elements often associated with the wuxia genre. The game’s first trailer suggests a grounded, realistic tone, eschewing gravity-defying martial arts in favour of cinematic, visceral action.
Players will assume the role of a father and his child caught in the chaos of rebellion. With their homeland in ruins, they are tasked with delivering a critical message eastward, one that could shift the course of history. According to NetEase, Blood Message seeks to explore how ordinary individuals can rise to play extraordinary roles during turbulent times.
Though no specific release window has been shared, Blood Message is confirmed for both console and PC platforms. NetEase has stated that development is ongoing, but further details regarding progress or launch timing remain under wraps.
