Chapter Summaries

Song Ren learned that the Wooden Shield was nearly useless after it failed against both a giant and a regular enemy. He then entered Old Yharnam, where a Gatling Gun and a Hunter overwhelmed him, leaving players across Yharnam battered by the game's brutal traps and horrors.

• Song Ren tried to block Big Axe Bro's attack with the Wooden Shield, was stunned, and died, losing his Blood Echoes.
• Song Ren tested the shield against Torch Guy, died again, and discarded it in favor of his Shotgun.
• Song Ren entered Old Yharnam despite a warning and was shot by a Hunter firing a Gatling Gun from a tower before a monster killed him.
• Song Ren returned and encountered a Hunter who fought with the same skills he had, including rolls, Gun Parries, and Visceral Attacks.
• Players, including experienced Dark Souls veterans, suffered repeated deaths from Bloodborne's difficult maps, powerful enemies, hidden traps, and terrifying atmosphere.

Bloodborne players encountered traps, grotesque monsters, and disorienting maps that pushed them toward mental collapse. The chapter ended with the game's oppressive horror and increasingly revolting creatures proving even more disturbing than its difficulty.

• Players flooded the Bloodborne forums to complain, seek guides, and share reactions to the game's brutality.
• In Grand Cathedral Ward, a player collected a glowing outfit and was killed by an invisible force.
• In the Forbidden Woods, a player dodged a swinging log only for its rope to snap, sending him off a cliff.
• In the Pthumeru Chalice Dungeon, a player was overwhelmed by monsters and bitten apart by a swarm of rats.
• In Upper Cathedral Ward, Brain Suckers attacked a player and drained his Spiritual Sight.
• Players faced increasingly grotesque creatures and oppressive sounds in areas including the Forbidden Woods, Research Hall, and Upper Cathedral Ward.

Players reacted to Bloodborne’s punishing difficulty, frightening monsters, and immersive VR, while the game’s popularity and layered story captivated Hardcore Players. The chapter left Hunters immersed in a bleak world of despair.

• Players complained online about Bloodborne’s difficulty, shared advice for the Blood-Starved Beast, and discussed how to reach a hidden Nightmare area.
• Veteran Dark Souls players embraced Bloodborne’s demanding combat, and the game became popular on livestreams and video sites.
• Many players chose the PC version over the VR Version, even though VR made encounters such as a Brain Sucker’s attack more frightening.
• Casual players often quit and watched streams instead, while Hardcore Players celebrated the challenge and explored Bloodborne’s fragmented story and memorable characters.
• The chapter contrasted Bloodborne’s intimate story of Yharnam with Dark Souls’ sweeping history and said both worlds ultimately led to despair.

Song Ren reached Bloodborne’s three endings, defeating the Moon Presence after collecting three Umbilical Cords and becoming a new Great One. The Hunter’s fate remained uncertain as the Doll cradled him, while Song Ren reflected on Yharnam’s tragic inhabitants.

• Song Ren reached Gehrman in the Hunter’s Dream and described the consequences of accepting Gehrman’s offer to awaken from the dream.
• The Hunter refused Gehrman, defeated him in the garden, and faced the Moon Presence, which sought to make him its new surrogate.
• Because the Hunter had collected three Umbilical Cords, he resisted and killed the Moon Presence, becoming an infant Great One.
• The Doll lifted the transformed Hunter and held him, leaving his identity and fate uncertain.
• Song Ren recalled the tragic fates of Yharnam’s characters, including Gilbert, the little girl, Iosefka, Maria, Willem, and Ludwig.

Players debated Bloodborne’s endings and excavated its lore, developing competing theories about its historical references and the origins of the beast plague. The online arguments intensified while ordinary players remained occupied with the game’s difficult bosses.

• Players discussed which of Bloodborne’s three endings to choose, questioning whether any offered a truly good outcome.
• Players combed through the game’s details, especially clues from the Dungeon Maze, and posted lengthy analyses of its story.
• Some players argued that Bloodborne’s plagues alluded to European epidemics, citing Old Yharnam, the Healing Church, and the Great Fire of London.
• Other players suggested the beast plague represented syphilis, linking Ludwig to Beethoven and the Healing Church’s experiments to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
• The lore theories sparked heated online disputes, while ordinary players joked that they were still stuck on the Blood-Starved Beast or Darkbeast of the Unseen Village.

Chen Xu announced that Nebula Games would make a satisfying, casual action game for the Switch, starring Zagreus as he fought his way out of the Greek underworld. The chapter left his colleagues wondering whether he had truly changed, while Chen Xu privately noted that unlucky players might still suffer.

• Chen Xu and his colleagues discussed Bloodborne's difficulty, speedruns, and players struggling to clear the game.
• Chen Xu explained that players could use Modded Dungeons to farm souls, though doing so separated them from normal online players.
• Meng Zuo praised Bloodborne's Chalice Dungeons and build variety, while Ruan Ningxue and Yang Xin complained about the grind and their bad luck.
• Chen Xu proposed making a relaxing, satisfying action game as a new-year opening show for the Switch.
• Chen Xu revealed that the game would follow Zagreus, son of Hades, as he fought his way out of hell, and described each run as taking around half an hour.

Chen Xu introduced Hades to the team as a top-down action roguelike that combined randomized runs with persistent character progression and story content. He explained that its pity mechanisms would help unlucky players, leaving Yang Xin feeling singled out by his remarks about bad luck.

• Bloodborne players discussed Chalice Dungeon farming, traps, and the brutal Half-Health Maze.
• Chen Xu gathered Qin Yi, Meng Zuo, Ruan Ningxue, and Yang Xin to introduce Hades.
• Chen Xu explained Hades' randomized rewards, persistent collectibles, character upgrades, and NPC storylines.
• Qin Yi asked why Hades would not use a completely random system, and Chen Xu said the game needed to consider unlucky players.
• Yang Xin sat speechless as Chen Xu repeatedly glanced at her while talking about poor luck.

Nebula Games developed Hades as a randomized action game, while Qin Yi and Meng Zuo worried about its demanding mechanics and progression. After Bloodborne’s popularity waned, Chen Xu announced Hades and released a demo that intrigued skeptical players, leaving them unsure whether his promise of satisfying combat was genuine.

• Qin Yi questioned Hades’ steep difficulty, and Chen Xu explained that players could compensate for weak builds with luck or grinding.
• Meng Zuo considered how Nectar, NPC affinity, and randomized runs would make Hades’ story and special routes require extensive play.
• Bloodborne’s popularity declined as ordinary players finished its playthroughs and endings, while some other games benefited from players seeking relief.
• Chen Xu announced Hades for Switch and the Nebula Game Platform, describing it as a satisfying action game recommended for Bloodborne players.
• Chen Xu posted concept art and a gameplay demo showing the Underworld Prince fighting with different weapons, prompting skeptical players to consider buying Hades.

At a restaurant in the Imperial Capital, Song Ren downloaded Chen Xu’s new game, Hades, and tried its opening escape attempt while waiting for food. The combat immediately impressed him, though he thought the game seemed easy as Zhang Yi began playing too.

• Song Ren, Zhang Yi, and Wang Han waited for their restaurant order and discussed Chen Xu’s newly released game, Hades.
• Song Ren downloaded Hades on his Switch and started a normal-difficulty run, skipping Hell Mode and God Mode.
• Song Ren learned the basic controls as the Underworld Prince began trying to escape the underworld.
• Song Ren enjoyed the sword attacks’ impact and told Zhang Yi that the game was genuinely fun.
• Song Ren said the early enemies made Hades seem easy, while Zhang Yi’s expectations for the game rose.

Song Ren played the game, discovered that Zeus’s Blessings strengthened the Underworld Prince’s attacks, and learned the combat and room mechanics while exploring. After dying before reaching the boss, he upgraded his abilities and unlocked a bow, then set out for another attempt.

• Song Ren activated the lightning symbol, met Zeus, and chose Lightning Attack to add chain lightning to his Normal Attacks.
• Song Ren explored rooms, learned about the enemies, rewards, armor, and traps, and lost most of his health before dying to bomb-throwing monsters.
• Song Ren returned to the Underworld Hall, spoke with Hades and Nyx, and discovered renovations, the mirror, and weapon unlocks.
• Song Ren upgraded Escape Death, bought an extra dash, unlocked a bow, and returned to the gates of hell to try again.

Song Ren began another run of Hades, chose Zeus’s Lightning Attack and Aphrodite’s powerful room-limited summon, and bought health at Charon’s shop. When he tried to borrow 300 Gold Coin from Charon’s Money Pouch, Charon attacked and sent him back home, leaving Song Ren still unable to reach the first BOSS.

• Song Ren started a new run with the Greatsword, chose Zeus’s Lightning Attack, and later selected Aphrodite’s Summon Blessing.
• Song Ren discovered that Divine Power reset between rooms and bought food at Charon’s shop to restore health.
• Song Ren tried to borrow 300 Gold Coin from Charon’s Money Pouch, triggering a fight on a platform above lava.
• Charon killed Song Ren with a single hit, and Hades taunted him for attempting to steal from Charon.
• Song Ren told Zhang Yi that he had not beaten the first BOSS and admitted that the game was still satisfying to play.

Song Ren struggled to beat the Furies while Zhang Yi showed off a powerful run against the Hydra, leaving Song Ren baffled by the upgrades he had never found. After “Hades” launched, players praised its satisfying combat, varied builds, and addictive runs, while discussing its characters and story online.

• Song Ren unlocked the Spear and reached the Furies, but failed to defeat them despite having Escape Death.
• Zhang Yi died to the Hydra after using blessings that boosted his attack and healed him on hits while reducing his maximum health.
• Song Ren learned from Zhang Yi and Wang Han about Hammers and their weapon-altering effects, then turned off his Switch.
• Players found “Hades” satisfying and addictive, grinding for Nectar, Titan Blood, Dark Crystal, and other upgrades.
• Players online praised the game’s combat and build combinations, discussed its characters, and joked about the game wearing out their controllers.

Players and designers discussed Hades as Yang Xin and her colleagues played it at Nebula Games. Chen Xu introduced the team to the fantasy world for their next game, centered on Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher of the Wolf School.

• Players praised Hades’ builds and rich character stories, while game designers studied its randomized gameplay.
• Yang Xin lost a gamble on a Hammer effect and turned off her Switch as Ruan Ningxue teased her.
• Chen Xu gathered core design staff from the writing and art departments and showed them books about mythology, vampires, and medieval life.
• Chen Xu described a fantasy world shaped by the Conjunction of Spheres and explained how Witchers hunted monsters and faced prejudice.
• Chen Xu revealed that the next game would follow Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher of the Wolf School.

Chen Xu announced that Nebula Games would develop The Witcher: Wild Hunt, an open-world action RPG, and explained why he chose its story and setting. He assigned Qin Yi and Ruan Ningxue to add Witcher-related Easter eggs to Nebula World, leaving the team to prepare promotional worldbuilding during development.

• Yang Xin asked whether Chen Xu’s new fantasy game would be an RPG, and Chen Xu confirmed it would be an open-world action role-playing game.
• Chen Xu explained that he had chosen The Witcher: Wild Hunt for its broad appeal, mature gameplay, and Geralt’s story continuing beyond the original novels.
• Chen Xu told the team that the game would depict many regions and their customs, then asked Qin Yi and Ruan Ningxue to add related Easter eggs to Nebula World.
• The team wondered whether Chen Xu was promoting a game before it had been approved, but Chen Xu insisted the material would be Easter eggs rather than selling a dream.
• Chen Xu planned to reveal background information such as the Witchers’ Trial of the Grasses through Nebula World to help players understand the setting.

Chen Xu planned how The Witcher: Wild Hunt would present its extensive lore and characters, including Ciri’s traumatic past and relationships. He also argued that intimate scenes with characters like Yennefer, Triss, and Keira were essential to immersing players in Geralt’s emotions and advancing the story.

• Chen Xu coordinated the game’s worldbuilding, environmental design, scripts, and lore with Nebula Games’ departments.
• Chen Xu planned to explain Ciri’s Elder Blood and history through in-game narration, fragmented memories, and later Easter eggs.
• Chen Xu outlined Ciri’s relationship with Mistle, the origin of her rose tattoo, and how Leo Bonhart’s abuse shaped her before she eventually killed him.
• Chen Xu decided the game would use intimate scenes to help players understand Geralt’s bonds with Yennefer, Triss, and other important characters.
• Chen Xu explained that choices surrounding Keira could lead to different outcomes, while encounters with Sasha and Syanna would further portray Geralt’s character.

Chen Xu discussed Ciri’s crossover abilities and the development of The Witcher: Wild Hunt while other studios promoted upcoming games. A Nebula World Easter egg made players think the game was nearly finished, but Chen Xu revealed it was only an early teaser and development still had a long way to go.

• Chen Xu told Qin Yi that Ciri’s ability to travel between worlds could enable crossovers with Lordran and New World, and Qin Yi agreed that the combat design should reflect her character settings.
• LS, Zeus’s FOW, and Atari revealed details about upcoming games, while Nebula Games remained silent and FOW began promoting its new title.
• Nebula World revealed an Easter egg crossover for Chen Xu’s new game, prompting players to believe it was close to completion and leaving Zeus and FOW startled.
• Chen Xu told Yang Chen and the team that The Witcher: Wild Hunt would receive a 17+ rating, with some explicit content available after age verification, and asked Meng Zuo to handle motion capture.
• Qin Yi warned that players were assuming the game was nearly done, but Chen Xu said the Easter egg was only an early teaser and development would take much longer.

Song Ren played Monster Hunter: World’s new crossover quest, in which Ciri arrived from another world to investigate strange monsters and a Leshen in the Ancient Forest. After Ciri and the Hunter defeated the Leshen, Song Ren received a guaranteed Attack Jewel.

• Song Ren triggered a cutscene in the Ancient Forest and found a Ghoul-like creature that the Research Commission identified as a possible being from another world.
• Ciri arrived through a portal, introduced herself as a Witcher, and identified the creature as a Nekker.
• Ciri investigated the Nekker’s arrival, learned about the Hunter and the New World, and mentioned that Geralt had taught her investigative skills.
• Ciri gathered clues, encountered Gajalaka who asked her to find their missing chief, and tracked the Ancient Forest disturbances to a Leshen.
• Ciri and the Hunter hunted the Leshen, and Song Ren earned an Attack Jewel as a crossover quest reward.

After the Ciri crossover Easter egg sparked speculation, Chen Xu revealed that The Witcher: Wild Hunt was in development, leaving players and rival FOW stunned by how little progress the announcement implied. At Nebula Games, Chen Xu discussed the soundtrack and gameplay adjustments with his team.

• Players discussed Ciri and Nebula Games' upcoming fantasy RPG, while FOW delayed its plans and gradually announced a release date for its new title.
• Chen Xu's Official Blog revealed that The Witcher: Wild Hunt was in development and that Ciri was one of its main characters, prompting players to realize the game was not nearly finished.
• FOW was left unsure whether Nebula Games had ever been targeting its release, while Chen Xu reviewed the players' reactions with his team.
• The soundtrack lead told Chen Xu that an orchestra would combine traditional Eastern European instruments with orchestral music and adapted folk songs.
• Chen Xu asked the team to prepare soundtrack demos and said they would improve the camera work and adjust fall damage so short falls would not kill Geralt.

As FOW’s “Wasteland 1978” earned a 9.3 media score, its lead designer Alex predicted it would win Game of the Year and compared it favorably with the unreleased “The Witcher: Wild Hunt.” Chen Xu posted the game’s promotional trailer, which revealed Geralt’s mission to find Ciri as the Wild Hunt threatened the world.

• FOW’s “Wasteland 1978” earned widespread acclaim, and Alex said it was one of the finest games in recent years.
• Alex dismissed the significance of “The Witcher: Wild Hunt’s” setting and said he would concede only if it matched “Red Dead Redemption 2” or “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.”
• Players argued online over Alex’s comments and whether “The Witcher: Wild Hunt” could rival “Wasteland 1978.”
• Chen Xu posted “The Witcher: Wild Hunt” promotional trailer on the Official Blog, though he had planned it as routine promotion rather than a counterattack.
• The trailer showed Geralt fighting monsters, meeting the Emperor of Nilfgaard, and being tasked with finding Ciri, who was pursued by the Wild Hunt.
• The trailer ended with Geralt facing a Wild Hunt Knight as narration warned that his choices would determine the world’s fate.

After the promotional video for "The Witcher: Wild Hunt" sparked player discussions, Alex concluded that its story and gameplay did not seem especially groundbreaking. Chen Xu’s team continued testing the nearly finished main story, and Chen announced that the game would launch on June 1.

• Players analyzed the promotional video and crossover details, speculating that the game centered on Geralt searching for his daughter, Ciri.
• Alex watched the video and decided that "The Witcher: Wild Hunt" was unlikely to have major gameplay innovations or an expansive story.
• Nebula Games continued refining and internally testing the base game's nearly completed main story, while planning Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for later development.
• Chen Xu announced on the Official Blog that "The Witcher: Wild Hunt" would launch on June 1, prompting eager players to preorder it.