Earlier in June, NetEase Games unveiled Blood Message, an ambitious new third-person action-adventure game being developed by their subsidiary studio 24 Entertainment. The cinematic trailer revealed a gripping narrative set in ancient China during the twilight years of the Tang Dynasty (848 AD), following a father and son on an epic thousand-mile journey.

Coming from the creators of Naraka: Bladepoint, Blood Message marks NetEase's first foray into AAA single-player experiences. Recent leaks suggest the game may launch as early as 2026, with industry insider Lunatic Ignus speculating a potential second-half release window and a $70 price point.

The development timeline reveals interesting details - while the project was greenlit in 2018, active development reportedly began in 2021. Sources indicate the reveal was originally planned for 2023, which might explain the relatively short gap between announcement and potential release.

According to leaks, Blood Message draws heavy inspiration from the God of War franchise, particularly in its narrative-driven approach to action gameplay. The game's director is said to have close ties with Feng Ji, creative lead of Black Myth: Wukong, suggesting potential design influences from that highly anticipated title as well.

The gaming community's expectations for Chinese-developed AAA titles have risen significantly following Black Myth: Wukong's success. With other promising projects like Phantom Blade Zero and Tides of Annihilation on the horizon, Blood Message enters an increasingly competitive landscape for high-quality Eastern-developed action games.