Chapter Summaries

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild drew enough new players to sell out the Switch and game cartridges worldwide. Chen Xu explained the shortage and said production was being accelerated, with another batch expected the following week.

• Players who bought Switches to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild quickly lost their impulse-purchase regrets after entering Hyrule Continent.
• As more players decided to buy the game, they found Switch consoles and physical cartridges sold out across official and third-party retailers, while secondhand prices soared.
• Players flooded Chen Xu's Official Blog with complaints about the shortages.
• Yan Xiong told Chen Xu that all three million units of global inventory had sold out, leaving every region short on stock.
• Chen Xu told Yan Xiong to ramp up production and watch for scalpers, and Yan Xiong said another batch would be ready the following week.
• Chen Xu, Nebula Games, and Shenyou posted announcements explaining that stock had run out.

Players rushed to buy Switch consoles for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Chen Xu announced that production was ramping up after the initial stock sold out. The chapter explained the game’s open-ended exploration, puzzles, combat, and weapon durability, ending with players celebrating that the Master Sword could be used freely once it recharged.

• Chen Xu announced that all three million stocked Switch units had sold out and that a large new batch would be released the following week.
• Players posted about buying Switch consoles at retail price and joked that they had effectively received a console for buying Breath of the Wild.
• The chapter contrasted Breath of the Wild’s exploration-centered design with Red Dead Redemption 2’s story-centered structure and described its shrines, Divine Beasts, puzzles, and combat.
• Players struggled to use weapons because they feared their durability would run out, then often had to discard them when they found stronger gear.
• Players who obtained the Master Sword discovered that it could recharge after losing durability, letting them chop trees, mine ore, and smash rocks without worrying about breaking it.

The chapter described how weapon durability made varied weapons useful, then recounted Link’s reunion with Mipha and the other Champions in Breath of the Wild. Players mourned Mipha and flocked to Chen Xu’s Official Blog to complain about the game’s emotional twist, while the chapter also highlighted Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa.

• The chapter explained that weapons such as the Banana Leaf had specialized uses against different enemies.
• Link arrived in Zora, where Sidon sought help to stop the Water Divine Beast from flooding the region.
• Link reclaimed Rutah, and Mipha freed her soul, gave him Mipha’s Grace, and said goodbye while wishing she could see her father again.
• Players, moved by Mipha’s farewell, flocked to Chen Xu’s Official Blog to complain that the game had hidden an emotional blow in its fairy-tale setting.
• The chapter described Daruk’s loyalty, Revali’s rivalry and eventual respect for Link, and Urbosa’s strength, then noted players’ impression of Link wearing women’s clothing.

The chapter recounted Zelda and Link’s growing friendship, Zelda’s struggles to awaken her sealing power, and her decision to keep fighting Ganon after sending the gravely wounded Link to the Shrine of Resurrection. It left players determined to defeat Ganon and save Zelda.

• Players found Zelda’s memories across Hyrule and learned how her frustration and pressure gradually gave way to a close friendship with Link.
• Zelda and Link shared warm moments as she learned why Link stayed quiet and discovered his enormous appetite.
• Zelda faced criticism from the king and ministers despite her research into ancient relics and her work to prepare Hyrule against Ganon.
• After Ganon revived and killed the Champions and the king, Zelda blamed herself as Link escorted her through the rain and past pursuing Guardians.
• When Link was gravely wounded near Kakariko Village, Zelda’s sealing power awakened, and she sent him with the Sheikah to the Shrine of Resurrection.
• Zelda returned the Master Sword to its pedestal and went alone to Hyrule Castle to fight Ganon until Link awakened.

Players joked about how Link kept postponing his fight with Ganon to prepare, while Breath of the Wild fans shared increasingly absurd techniques and speedruns. The game’s huge variety of content kept players exploring and its sales rising even after they had defeated Ganon.

• Players joked that Link delayed saving Zelda to free the Divine Beasts, gather equipment, clear shrines, collect Yahaha, explore the map, prepare supplies, and practice techniques.
• Players posted videos of creative tricks, including flying minecarts, ambushing Yiga Clan members, using ChuChu Jelly against Guardians, and launching Link with Wind Bombs.
• Speedrunners used retained techniques such as Link Time, Shield Surfing, and Wind Bombs to skip shrine puzzles and race toward the royal castle.
• Players joked that Ganon should run as Link’s increasingly powerful moves and ever-faster speedruns spread online.
• Sales of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continued to rise as players found new content after dozens or hundreds of hours and multiple victories over Ganon.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild boosted Switch sales and swept the year's major game awards, setting a record as the first non-VR game to win Game of the Year. After the ceremony, Chen Xu learned that Huanyu and Zeus planned VR upgrades and that Zeus and Atrai might make major moves this year.

• Breath of the Wild drew players into the Switch ecosystem, helping the console and its games sell tens of millions while benefiting third-party developers.
• Dark Souls and Monster Hunter: World were ported to Switch, trading visual quality for portability.
• Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey dominated the year's awards, and Breath of the Wild became the first non-VR Game of the Year.
• At the awards venue, Yang Chen told Chen Xu that Zeus and Atrai were likely to make major moves this year.
• Yang Chen said Huanyu VR would optimize loading times and that Huanyu VR and overseas Zeus would add Sober Mode to their VR Game Pods.

Chen Xu and Nebula Games tested the VR Game Pod’s new Sober Mode and planned updates to existing games, while Chen Xu’s latest draw prompted him to settle on a new game for the first half of the year. He decided to make a wholesome, healing game for the whole family.

• Yang Chen explained to Chen Xu that Sober Mode reduced the harmful effects of excessive immersion while preserving the benefits of VR.
• At the end of the month, the Game Department and Zeus overseas announced a major VR Game Pod update featuring Sober Mode and improved loading.
• Chen Xu tested Sober Mode with Meng Zuo and Qin Yi, then assigned the team to update Red Dead Redemption 2 and test player responses to the mode in Dark Souls, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Warzone.
• Chen Xu used nearly two hundred draws but received no black-tech items, instead gaining professional knowledge in directing, archaeology, action performance, rock climbing, and ancient architecture.
• Chen Xu chose to develop a wholesome family game for Huanyu VR instead of settling on the Souls-like game he had previously considered.

Chen Xu discussed the flood of newly announced Open World games with his colleagues, arguing that the genre would grow without becoming the mainstream. He revealed Nebula Games’ next project would be a linear action-adventure game about hunting for a legendary pirate’s treasure.

• Game companies released patches for older games, and players reported much faster loading times in Red Dead Redemption 2 while giving mixed feedback on Sober Mode.
• Atrai announced Elemental World, an Open World treasure-hunting game about finding four Elemental Swords to save a world shattered after the Dark Lord’s defeat.
• Players discussed how many upcoming games were Open World titles, and Chen Xu said many current examples relied on barren maps, repetitive activities, and formulaic design.
• Chen Xu argued that Open World games would become an important direction but not the mainstream, while carefully designed linear games had strong advantages in VR.
• Chen Xu told Qin Yi that Nebula Games would make a treasure-hunting action-adventure game about searching for a legendary great pirate’s treasure.

Chen Xu outlined Nebula Games’ new cinematic action-adventure game, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and assigned teams to begin work on its climbing mechanics and concept art. He planned to tell the Uncharted story through flashbacks, promising a healing ending that left the team skeptical.

• Chen Xu introduced Uncharted: The Lost Legacy as a visually ambitious treasure-hunting adventure with cinematic set pieces and climbing as a core gameplay feature.
• Chen Xu told Yang Xin that the game would have a joyful atmosphere and a healing ending, leaving the gathered team stunned and doubtful.
• Chen Xu assigned Qin Yi’s team to build the climbing framework and asked the art team to create concept art.
• Chen Xu returned to his office and decided to tell the Uncharted story through flashbacks, drawing on the series’ polished gameplay and Drake’s happy ending.

Nebula Games adapted Uncharted for VR while rival companies promoted their upcoming games. Players discovered that Nebula Games had hidden clues about Uncharted in its VR themes, including the protagonist’s name and rumors about the game.

• Chen Xu’s team adjusted Uncharted’s camera work and added detailed VR feedback for climbing, falling, explosions, and gunfire.
• Atari revealed that Elemental World would feature an open world centered on ruins, puzzles, and four Elemental Swords.
• NetDragon promoted a new Shadow Squad game set on a fictional island, drawing attention for its improved graphics.
• Players wondered why Nebula Games had not announced a major new project while other companies shared news.
• An online post claimed Nebula Games had hidden clues about a new VR action-adventure game in its VR themes.
• Players found Easter eggs naming Nathan Drake and Uncharted, including a rumor in a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR theme.

Players pieced together the hidden clues and identified Nebula Games’ next title as Uncharted, which Chen Xu confirmed with four pieces of concept art. As players and rival studios reacted to the announcement, Chen Xu prepared to begin a major production step.

• Players shared hidden diaries and newspaper clues that pointed to Nathan Drake and the legendary places he explored in Uncharted.
• Players researched the ruins and treasure legends mentioned in the clues and found that their historical basis was a mixture of fact and folklore.
• Chen Xu confirmed Uncharted on his Official Blog with the message “You've already guessed it” and four pieces of Concept Art showing Nathan Drake and Elena.
• Players celebrated the reveal, while Chen Xu lamented that they had misunderstood his intentions and told Yang Xin the film crew was ready for their next big step.
• NetDragon, Atari, and other game companies were stunned by Nebula Games’ promotional strategy and recognized that it depended on players’ trust in the studio.

Atari’s Elemental World reclaimed players’ attention with an Easter egg hunt announcement and a gameplay demo, while Chen Xu filmed practical explosion footage for Uncharted to strengthen its realism. After capturing the blast, he planned to refine it and other details without sacrificing smooth gameplay.

• Atari announced an Elemental World Easter egg hunt, offering a fifty-thousand-dollar Elemental Sword replica to the first player to complete the task.
• Atari released a gameplay demo showing Brave’s team exploring a ruin, triggering a curse, and facing the revived Undead, drawing strong player interest.
• Chen Xu prepared to film Uncharted’s cave explosion scene with a detailed set, specially placed cameras, and wired charges.
• Chen Xu’s team detonated the set and captured the controlled collapse from multiple angles, which Chen Xu praised as perfect.
• Chen Xu planned to combine the footage with game effects and realistic details while prioritizing smooth gameplay over realism that interrupted the flow.

Nebula Games released a cinematic promotional video for Uncharted, showing Nathan Drake’s treasure hunts, family ties, and struggle between adventure and a stable life. The video left players and industry designers stunned by its visuals, while newly released materials revealed that Uncharted was a Threaded Game.

• Chen Xu’s Official Weibo posted a video promoting Uncharted with the line, “I was born for treasure, and I must seek my treasure.”
• The video showed Nathan Drake and Sam Drake pursuing legendary ruins and treasure, alongside scenes of Nathan’s family life, Elena, and Sully.
• Players praised the video’s visuals, action, and apparent story about adventure, family responsibility, and love.
• Industry designers wondered how Uncharted achieved such detailed visuals without unusually long loading times.
• After examining Nebula Games’ materials, industry designers realized that Uncharted was a Threaded Game.

After Uncharted revealed its May 1 release date, Atari’s Elemental World fell silent because it was still unfinished, while players worried that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy would end in Nathan Drake’s death. Chen Xu chose not to correct them, intending to surprise players with the game’s cheerful ending.

• Nebula Games announced that Uncharted would launch on May 1, and Atari’s Antolini realized Elemental World would not be ready in time.
• Atari paused Elemental World’s promotion, prompting players to suspect that the game was unfinished and frustrating those who had been anticipating it.
• Uncharted’s subtitle, The Lost Legacy, led many players to fear that Nathan Drake would die, but Chen Xu did not respond to their speculation.
• Ruan Ningxue asked Chen Xu why he was letting players misunderstand the game, and he said their fears would make its happy ending more surprising.

Song Ren, Zhang Yi, and Wang Han explored Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’s beachside VR theme before entering the game. Song Ren began the opening sequence as Nathan Drake fled a storm at sea with his brother Sam, pursued by enemy ships.

• Zhang Yi, Song Ren, and Wang Han marveled at the beachside VR theme and wondered how to enter the game.
• Song Ren started the boat and entered the game, while Zhang Yi and Wang Han appeared to fall into the sea as they disconnected from the theme.
• Song Ren began the stormy boat sequence as Nathan Drake steered with Sam Drake aboard.
• Sam Drake exchanged fire with the pursuing enemies while Song Ren drove through the waves.

Song Ren played through Nathan Drake’s desperate escape by boat, enjoying the forgiving combat before a collision knocked Nathan into the sea. The story then jumped back to Nathan’s teenage years at the orphanage, where Song Ren began exploring the moonlit town.

• Song Ren guided Nathan and Sam through enemy attacks at sea, then fought back with auto-aim on Explorer difficulty while Sam repaired the boat.
• After an enemy boat sank, a burning vessel crashed into Nathan and Sam’s boat and threw Nathan into the sea.
• The game shifted to Nathan’s teenage years at the orphanage, where Sam signaled to him with a flashlight after the nun left.
• Song Ren explored the orphanage room and admired the game’s realistic details before guiding Nathan out through a window.
• Nathan emerged into a moonlit town, and Song Ren looked around before wondering if he would climb the walls next.

Song Ren played through Uncharted: The Lost Legacy’s prison opening, learning its climbing and combat controls as Nathan Drake was sent to retrieve clues about Henry Avery’s treasure. Nathan reached the first puzzle, leaving the treasure hunt ready to begin.

• Song Ren guided young Nathan Drake through the Orphanage rooftop tutorial, practicing climbs and swings before Nathan and Sam escaped by motorcycle.
• Adult Nathan Drake fought a prisoner, was taken to solitary, and then met warden Vargas, who revealed a plan involving Henry Avery’s treasure and a hidden cross.
• Song Ren realized Nathan had entered the prison as part of a treasure-hunting scheme and began guiding him through dangerous climbs, environmental obstacles, and prisoner records.
• Nathan Drake reached his destination and unlocked the game’s first puzzle level.

Song Ren played through Nathan Drake’s prison escape, learned that Sam had seemingly died and then returned fifteen years later, and discovered Nathan had retired and married Elena. Sam reunited with Nathan and revealed he had escaped prison with a notorious Panamanian armed fugitive, leaving Nathan poised to return to adventure for Henry Avery’s treasure.

• Song Ren solved the prison puzzle, found a Cross, and watched Rafe kill Vargas before Sam was shot and fell back into the prison.
• Fifteen years later, Nathan worked for a salvage company, lived with his wife Elena, and reminisced about his past adventures.
• Nathan played Super Mario with Elena before returning to work, where Sam unexpectedly appeared after fifteen years away.
• Sam told Nathan that he had escaped prison with a Panamanian armed fugitive because of Henry Avery’s treasure.
• Song Ren played through Sam’s explosive prison escape and concluded that Nathan would return to adventure to help his brother.

Song Ren played Uncharted through Nathan Drake’s mansion escape and the dangerous treasure hunt at St. Dismas Cathedral. Nathan and Sam found a map to their next destination, then escaped as the Cathedral collapsed around them.

• Nathan and Sam infiltrated an auction, stole a Cross, and escaped pursuit by Rafe and the Shoreline mercenaries.
• Nathan fought a formidable mercenary leader, found the pistol Sam had left for him, and blasted his way through the mansion on the lowest difficulty before escaping with Sully.
• Nathan and Sam followed clues through dangerous climbing routes to St. Dismas Cathedral, where Rafe and the mercenaries had already blasted their way inside.
• Nathan and Sam solved puzzles beneath the Cathedral and found a map pointing to their next destination instead of treasure.
• Nathan tricked the mercenaries into taking the Cross from the scales, triggering a mechanism that collapsed the underground hall as the brothers fought their way out.

Song Ren played through Uncharted as Nathan Drake and Sam searched Madagascar for pirate treasure, while Nathan’s lies strained his marriage to Elena. Their journey led to Libertalia, where Rafe exposed Sam’s deception and Nathan fell from a cliff; an unexpected person then appeared beside the unconscious Nathan.

• Nathan and Sam escaped through Madagascar in a frantic chase, and Nathan later continued the treasure hunt despite Elena discovering his lies and leaving in disappointment.
• Nathan and Sam sailed toward a lonely island, survived a shipwreck, reunited, and followed a clue bearing Henry Avery’s mark to Libertalia.
• Rafe confronted Nathan and Sam in Libertalia and revealed that Sam had escaped prison long ago and had secretly searched for the treasure with Rafe.
• Rafe tried to kill Nathan, but Sam took the shot, and Nathan fell from a cliff into a lake before climbing back up and passing out.
• An unexpected person appeared beside the unconscious Nathan and called his name.