Tian Yao Company's Grand Move

July 1st, only 24 hours left until the Version 2.1 launch.

Inside the president's office, both Ma Ru Long and Xiao Yan entered the virtual pod.

Tian Yao Company's virtual immersion time delay technology can now stably achieve a ratio of 1:6.

However, the manufacturing of the relevant hardware is too complex and the cost is extremely high, so it cannot be widely used in normal virtual services in the short term.

Currently, only senior executives and design department personnel at Tian Yao Company have access to the relevant equipment.

Who wouldn't want more free time? Now, Ma Ru Long spends almost all of his work time in the virtual warehouse.

At this moment, Xiao Yan is checking the overall planning details of Version 2.1 with Ma Ru Long.

Ma Ru Long listened attentively, occasionally frowning slightly. "Xiao Yan, your arrangement is indeed reasonable, but whether it will work depends on market feedback."

Xiao Yan also sighed:

"Mr. Ma, I have no choice. As you have seen in version 2.0, the development of players in the National Server is clearly a level ahead of other servers. The average level has reached Eight Star Dou Ling, and the proportion of Dou Wang players is a full ten percentage points higher than other servers."

In fact, before the Battle Through the Heavens the Heavens" was launched, Tianyao had already completed all the content for versions 1.0 to 1.3.

Version 2.0 is also being updated as planned.

The problem lies in version 1.3.

During an internal R&D and operations meeting at Tian Yao Company, as various data were listed, the heads of different departments discovered a very absurd problem.

Same version, same production limits, same timeframe.

In fact, because the game storylines and NPCs in other countries are original creations tailored to local cultures, the difficulty of other servers has been slightly reduced.

The end result is that the development of National Server players still leads all other servers.

Regarding this situation, there are three opinions within Tian Yao Company.

The first is to maintain the status quo.

Secondly, we need to increase the difficulty of the game for National Server players in order to ensure the healthy operation of the game.

Third, there is Xiao Yan's proposed solution: continue to expand the game content!

The meeting concluded that the current situation should be maintained for now, and the outcome of version 2.0 should be observed.

Therefore, version 2.0 is an update based on the established game content.

However, when the data for version 2.0 was presented at the R&D and operations conference five days ago, all those who held the first view fell silent.

Only the two groups with the second and third opinions remained, arguing heatedly.

In the end, Xiao Yan stepped forward as the chief designer, took the lead, and chose the third option.

However, the chain reaction caused by expanding the game content will be more uncontrollable, and it will increase the workload of various departments, as well as Tian Yao Company's development investment.

So even with Ma Ru Long's support, Xiao Yan only got one version of the opportunity.

If players' online time and willingness to spend are lower in this version than in version 2.0, then the second option will be implemented.

"Mr. Ma, you used to get really into video games when you were younger, right?"

Ma Ru Long: "Of course, when I was young at forty, I would play all sorts of games with my sister-in-law every day after work."

Xiao Yan: "So, Mr. Ma, you must also understand that if you keep increasing the difficulty of the game and reducing the output to control the rate at which players' stats increase, players will easily get tired and quit the game because of insufficient positive feedback!"

"Although other game companies are currently being squeezed by us and can only make competitive and casual games, the online game market is so huge that they are always watching and ready to bite us back!"

The more Ma Ru Long listened, the deeper his brows furrowed.

Because what Xiao Yan said was indeed reasonable.

Today's players are not the same as the "leeks" (exploited investors) of their generation.

There are many ways to retain players, but they all come down to one core element: experience!

Xiao Yan smiled and said:

"There are still some conservatives in the company, but that's okay, I'll take charge! I'm in charge, and I can't let them ruin this game that I've worked so hard to make. What's the point of suppressing player development? If we make the game content and gameplay more and better, and get players hooked, how can they not buy it?"

"The only way to limit player progression is through combat and NPC resurrection. Reduce rewards? Increase difficulty? Right now, players only have patience for interacting with NPCs. If they expect them to complete a quest in ten days or half a month and still fail, they'll immediately delete their accounts and quit the game!"

Ma Ru Long said, "But that doesn't mean we should just let the players develop as they please."

"As long as they are capable enough, let them develop as they please!"

At this point, Xiao Yan smiled somewhat sinisterly, "This Version 2.1 has undergone major changes, significantly reducing the difficulty for ordinary players to level up, and the focus of the storyline is now on the Black-Corner Region. By utilizing the special rules of the Black-Corner Region, the combat has been greatly intensified, causing players' levels to fluctuate wildly!"

"Defeat in battle, drop levels rapidly, then level up faster, even triggering various opportunities to surge in strength, then take revenge, then fight again, then fail again, then level up again, jumping back and forth repeatedly!"

"With a clear boost as a safety net, players have ample confidence to take revenge. This process of achieving the goal is infinitely better than suppressing output!"

Ma Ru Long: "What about the Top Player? The top 20 on the Combat Power Rankings! They're probably aiming for the Dou Zong level this version. Especially that guy named Yang Shan, his account is practically flawless. Even if I, a middle-aged or old man, played it, I could probably dominate it!"

Xiao Yan: "Come on, Mr. Ma, look at this!"

Ma Ru Long's eyes widened as he looked at the documents Xiao Yan handed him.

The title of the page above is "Mid-to-Late Stage Storyline of Version 2.1 - Top-Tier Beast Tide in Black-Corner Region!" The title details the level and number of monsters that will be featured in this storyline!

Ma Ru Long: "Good heavens, you're really cunning!"

"What 'underhanded'? This is an open conspiracy!"

Xiao Yan said confidently, "Those Top Player, if they have the guts, they should just play it safe in this version. Otherwise, even Yang Shan has a high chance of failing in this version! Losing three stars for each death, how can he possibly reach the Dou Zong?"

Ma Ru Long: "What if there really are Top Player just play passively?"

Xiao Yan: "Let him play it safe! Since they're not lowering their output, how can those Top Player resist the urge to snatch those top-tier items? If they just keep playing it safe and don't compete, it would be a miracle if they developed quickly. It's a perfect closed loop, hehehe."

Ma Ru Long laughed and scolded, "Have you gone crazy from debugging the Soul Hall's content lately? Why are you laughing like that all the time?"

Xiao Yan thought for a moment:

"I guess so. The main reason is that all Eight Clans are present, and the Soul Clan can no longer assume the role of the big boss. The Central Plains Continent needs to make more adjustments."

Ma Ru Long: "A few days ago I saw a report from the operations department that a player named Su Yitang had already sneaked into Central Plains. Is it a big deal?"

Xiao Yan: "It doesn't matter. There were already some opportunities pointing to Central Plains. This will also make it easier to connect with the future Central Plains version. The protagonist of the original novel is Dou Zong, and he still needs to find a backer in Central Plains! How can Dou Emperor get along in Central Plains?"

Ma Ru Long glanced at his watch. "It's almost time, let's get ready to start the new version launch event!"

Xiao Yan: "Alright, I'll go first then."

Ma Ru Long reminded him:

"You better not let anything slip like you did last time!"

Xiao Yan: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"

Perhaps due to a mishap at the last 2.0 version preview launch event, Xiao Yan, as the host of this launch event, was much more restrained this time.

However, compared to Ma Ru Long, Xiao Yan's hosting style was much more relaxed and concise.

"Ahem! Greetings to all the big spenders of Battle Through the Heavens the Heavens! I'm Xiao Yan, the chief planner of Battle Through the Heavens! I won't go into the new technologies and new concepts, they're not interesting. Please watch the video!"

The first scene of the new expansion, Version 2.1, features the stunningly Medusa Queen! Before Medusa Queen, the Green Lotus Core Flame flickers in the center of the lotus platform.

The captain of the guards Hua She'er, and Yue Mei, the leader of the Eight Great Leaders, stood respectfully behind him.

Medusa Queen said calmly:

"Yue Mei, go and invite Blade Sovereign here!"

"Hua She'er, contact Xiao Aotian!"

Yang Shan and a group of his company employees were watching the live stream together.

Su Yitang excitedly grabbed Yang Shan's shoulders:

"Wow! Boss, you released an expansion pack! You released an expansion pack!"

Yang Shan turned his head to look at Su Yitang.

Although Su Yitang was dressed conservatively today, at such a close distance, one could still see the rabbit hopping around.

Su Yitang was unaware that she was currently both excited and envious:

"When will I get to have a minor role in the expansion pack?"

Yang Shan: "There is an opportunity."

Bai Su'an stroked his beard and rationally analyzed the situation:

"Saying 'please' to President Yang and 'contact' to Xiao Aotian subtly reveals the difference in their status. Could Tian Yao Company be deliberately trying to incite hatred between the players?"

Yang Shan shook his head. "That's not the case. My status in the Serpent-People tribe is indeed much higher than Xiao Aotian's. Medusa is going to treat people differently anyway."

Yang Shan was very interested in the content of the expansion pack.

Because the beginning of this expansion pack already shows differences from the previous version.

In the previous 2.1 expansion pack Medusa did indeed make her first appearance.

Indeed, Medusa intended to use the Green Lotus Core Flame to advance her cultivation level.

But Medusa didn't mention any players! Now she has.

What happened next made Yang Shan's face freeze completely.

At the top of the Burning Sky Refining Tower of the Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian and Hu Qian both looked worried. "With the change of power, the Black-Corner Region is about to descend into chaos again."

Immediately following, Mo Tianxing, the sect leader of the Black Emperor Sect, the Three Great Elders of the Demon Flame Valley, Ban Lao Thousand Speck City, Fan Lao the Blood Sect, Tie Wu of Mad Lion Gang Earth Flame Sect Yan Zhe all made their appearance! The leaders of the forces in the Black-Corner Region gathered together, and a map of the Black-Corner Region was placed on the table in front of them.

The top is marked with a dense array of resource points.

The leaders pointed at these resource points one by one, their expressions ranging from serious to angry, but their voices were muffled.

With the intervention of the Three Great Elders of Demon Flame Valley.

The leaders of various factions also activated their Dou Technique.

The scene was so obscured by various Dou Qi that nothing could be seen.

After the various Dou Qi dissipated.

A semi-transparent Soul Body fell to the ground, its aged face full of weariness.

In the next instant, several dark figures surrounded the Soul Body.

Han Feng, pale-faced and with a sickly smile, slowly approached:

"Master, we haven't seen each other for years. Why do you run away as soon as you see me? Keep running!"

Han Feng gathered powerful Dou Qi in his palm, and the flames engulfed his Soul Body.

The screen dimmed, and a line of white text slowly appeared: Battle Through the Heavens 2.1, this time, the plot is in your hands! Su Yitang noticed that Yang Shan's expression was off and secretly sent a message:

"Boss, boss, what's wrong?"

Yang Shan then came to his senses:

"Oh, I had a great chat with Yao Lao Yao Lao I triggered the opportunity before. I didn't expect Han Feng to actually find him. It seems that in this version, we players will have to save Yao Lao from Han Feng. The pressure is a bit high!"