Ethan Vale

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ethan Vale (叶枫)
Alias(es)	Black Star; Old Thief
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sprout Studio; Star Sea Animation Films
Occupation/Role	Founder and chief designer of Sprout Studio; owner of Star Sea Animation Films
Romantic Partner	Xu Xinghai
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Milestone	Advancement	Details
System Activation	Game Creation System activated	After transmigrating, Ethan Vale received the task of collecting 1,000 “Super Difficult” survey responses in exchange for Holographic Projection Technology. 1
First System Mission Completed	Holographic Projection Technology obtained	Bloodborne ultimately earned the 1,000 “Super Difficult” evaluations necessary to complete Ethan Vale’s first documented system mission. 87
Holographic Demonstration	Technology publicly deployed	Ethan Vale used holographic projection to present a playable Silent Hill horror teaser, selecting audience members to experience the immersive demonstration. 119
Game-Pod Development	Immersive gaming infrastructure expanded	Ethan Vale pursued game pods capable of gathering players’ physical data and creating in-game models based on their real bodies, later using pod-based viewing and gameplay functions at major events. 234 374

Background / History

Ethan Vale transmigrated after drowning in a stormy sea in his previous life, where he had been a veteran game designer with a net worth exceeding one hundred million. In his new world, he discovered that its game industry was technologically advanced but creatively barren, with none of the games he remembered existing there. Soon afterward, the Game Creation System activated, tasking him with collecting 1,000 “Super Difficult” survey responses in exchange for Holographic Projection Technology. 1

While still a game-design student, Ethan Vale created and uploaded Getting over it in a single afternoon. He built its crude-looking pot-bound protagonist, punishing climbing map, and deliberately taunting narration himself, then advertised it with the line: “So you guys said the games I made were very easy?” 1 The game went viral through streamers, but player insistence that it was “Very Easy” prevented his system from receiving the ratings it required. 3 5

After Yogame removed Getting over it—referred to in the announcement as Getting over it—following complaints about violent content, Ethan Vale withdrew his remaining earnings and invested them into Dead Cells. He refused Yogame’s offer to buy the game’s copyright and recruit him, choosing instead to establish his own studio with Song Shan. 6 7

Sprout Studio’s success expanded rapidly after Dead Cells, which Ethan Vale developed using all of the 1.5 million yuan earned from his first game. The studio grew from a student dormitory operation into a thirty-person office in Sea City, and later continued recruiting for further projects. 18 19 20

Ethan Vale subsequently led development on This War of Mine, Overcooked, and Hollow Knight, while planning larger projects including Bloodborne and Dark Souls. 20 30 32 41 His work earned international recognition, including the World Anti-War Organization’s recommendation of This War of Mine and multiple Global Game Awards for Sprout Studio’s games. 29 44

Following the release of A Dance of Fire and Ice, Ethan Vale publicly framed his design philosophy as creating joy for players with care rather than merely pursuing profit. The rhythm game’s success helped Evan and Sprout’s employees better understand the thought and precision underlying Ethan Vale’s demanding standards. 54 55

During a New Year visit to his hometown, Ethan Vale reunited with his childhood friend Xie Lingjiang, who had become isolated after suffering severe burns in a fire. He offered her a position at Sprout Studio matching her game-engine studies, then arranged treatment after she accepted the opportunity to work and regain her sense of worth. 56 57 58 59 65 Xie Lingjiang later recovered substantially and became one of the employees responsible for overseeing important development details. 88 133

As Sprout grew into an international industry leader, Ethan Vale expanded beyond conventional PC development. He brought Bloodborne to E3, where its preorder campaign sold more than 800,000 copies within ten minutes, and he completed the Game Creation System’s first known mission through the game’s “Super Difficult” ratings. 73 76 87 He also began developing holographic gaming experiences, game pods, animation, films, hardware, and large-scale game exhibitions. 119 215 234 326 378

Ethan Vale acquired Star Sea Animation Films after its founder, Old Xu, deliberately restructured the company to make it viable for acquisition. The company became a Sprout subsidiary and a foundation for Ethan Vale’s broader animation and film ambitions. 214 215 He later supported Xu Xinghai’s development as a director and began separating Sprout’s game and film divisions so that she could establish her own professional authority. 471 476

By the time Sprout hosted the Great Xia Game Expo, Ethan Vale had become one of the game industry’s defining figures. He used the event to honor players’ shared gaming memories, announce Monster Hunter, distribute game-related gifts, and establish exchanges intended to help smaller developers and the wider Great Xia game industry grow. 378 379 381 386 402

Ethan Vale publicly confirmed his relationship with Xu Xinghai during the expo period. Although many players reacted with disbelief or joking grief, he treated the relationship seriously, introduced her to his parents, and continued supporting her personal and professional ambitions. 393 394 395 396 418

Appearance

Ethan Vale is a youthful-looking young man whose appearance contrasts sharply with the players’ image of the “heartless” designer behind notoriously punishing games. 31

• Sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. 31
• Retains a trace of youthful boyishness. 31
• Often dresses simply in a T-shirt. 31
• Wore a fitted suit during his livestream interview with First Game News. 31
• Wore a tailored black-and-gray suit, with professionally styled hair, while hosting the Great Xia Game Expo. 378
• Is sometimes not immediately recognized when dressed casually, including by his cousin Ye Cheng, who initially believed he merely resembled Black Star. 163

Personality

Ethan Vale is intensely ambitious and confident in his creative vision. He repeatedly rejects secure employment and acquisition offers because he wants Sprout Studio to remain independent and pursue increasingly ambitious projects. 6 32 37

He has a mischievous, provocative streak toward players, taking genuine satisfaction in their frustration while initially pursuing his system’s desired “Super Difficult” ratings. However, he becomes frustrated when players deliberately label his games “Very Easy,” even after being publicly encouraged to rate them otherwise. 5 15 45 46 After completing his first system mission, he gradually accepts that “Very Easy” has become players’ affectionate expression of approval rather than a literal dismissal of his games. 87 158

Despite his ruthlessness as a designer, Ethan Vale is loyal to those who stood by him. He recognizes Song Shan as the original owner’s only sincere friend and gives him responsibility, trust, and a one-percent stake in Sprout Studio despite Song Shan’s self-doubt. 20

Ethan Vale is deeply compassionate toward people facing hardship, although he is visibly uncomfortable when praised for it. He respects Xie Lingjiang’s dignity by offering meaningful work rather than treating her solely as an object of charity, and he arranges for her medical treatment after she joins Sprout. 58 59 65 He similarly respects the aspirations of extreme-sports athletes and supports their goals while emphasizing professional preparation and safety. 370 371

He maintains exceptionally high standards for both Sprout and its collaborators. His terse rejection of substandard EA work and his direct intervention in Ubisoft’s design problems make developers fear his criticism, but also push them to improve. 157 162 294 297

Although he has become a globally celebrated figure, Ethan Vale remains uncomfortable with excessive attention, praise, and displays of celebrity status. He prefers working, reviewing projects, and interacting with players to presenting himself as an idol. 65 163 237

Abilities & Skills

Game Design

Ethan Vale possesses extensive game-design knowledge carried over from his previous life. He can rapidly produce complete design plans containing level layouts, weapons, monsters, abilities, attributes, story concepts, and progression systems. 1 6

• Created Getting over it in one afternoon using free assets, a deliberately awkward protagonist, a punishing map, and self-recorded narration. 1
• Designed Dead Cells with a detailed weapon, monster, equipment, and upgrade structure. 6 8
• Planned future projects far in advance, including references to Hollow Knight hidden within Dead Cells. 20
• Oversees projects across genres, from roguelike action games to anti-war survival games and cooperative cooking games. 20 32
• Designed rhythm gameplay around exact timing, music, calibration, and escalating player mastery for A Dance of Fire and Ice. 54 55
• Uses games to convey difficult emotional experiences, including the personal struggle represented by Celeste and the companionship central to Titanfall. 65 102
• Can develop both highly punishing action games and intentionally relaxing experiences, such as the real-time-synchronized handheld project Deserted Island Relocation Plan. 457
• Pursues radically different genres without limiting himself to established market expectations, including survival games, multiplayer strategy games, historical action games, first-person shooters, hunting games, romance games, animation, and film. 178 294 399 443 605

Project Direction

Ethan Vale is willing to reinvest nearly all available revenue into game development and expand his studio rather than prioritize personal luxury. 6 15 37

• Invested all 1.5 million yuan earned from Getting over it into developing Dead Cells. 18
• Expanded Sprout Studio from a dormitory-based operation to an office with dozens of employees. 18 20
• Established parallel project teams for Hollow Knight and Bloodborne. 39
• Refuses outside financing and corporate recruitment in order to preserve Sprout Studio’s independence. 6 32 37
• Personally reviews external collaborators’ work and refuses to lower standards merely to accommodate schedules or corporate pressure. 157 162 221
• Gave Ubisoft direct guidance on player freedom, infiltration design, and the motion capture required for the Leap of Faith. 294 296 297
• Acquired Star Sea Animation Films to support Sprout’s long-term animation and film plans, then issued scripts to keep the newly acquired company actively producing work. 214 215
• Supports talented employees’ ambitions, including allowing Li Ming to independently develop a game while requiring regular progress reviews and departmental oversight. 699 700

Technical Innovation

Ethan Vale actively seeks technology that can deepen players’ immersion rather than treating hardware as an end in itself.

• Completed his first Game Creation System mission and received Holographic Projection Technology. 87
• Demonstrated holographic gaming through the Silent Hill playable teaser and later incorporated holographic experiences into major events. 119 374
• Developed and promoted game pods that use physical data to construct player-specific in-game models. 234 326
• Worked with Microsoft on hardware initiatives, including a handheld console project and next-generation console experiences. 215 330
• Uses interactive systems, real-world events, and physical collectibles to extend games beyond screens, including citywide card-collection activities tied to Dark Souls. 640

Publicity and Player Engagement

Ethan Vale understands how to draw attention through provocative messaging and direct engagement with players and streamers. 1 9 15

• Promoted Dead Cells with the challenge: “You call that very easy?” 9
• Publicly interacts with streamer Silver under his Black Star identity. 15 42
• Accepted a livestream interview to increase Sprout Studio’s visibility and support its independent operation. 31
• Used employee demonstration streams to help players understand the appeal of Hollow Knight. 49
• Turned Bloodborne’s E3 presentation into a live preorder event that surpassed 800,000 sales in ten minutes. 76
• Uses trailers, single-image teasers, social-media responses, and controlled leaks to drive speculation without revealing more than necessary. 102 149 215
• Organizes player-facing events that combine games, holographic technology, collectibles, livestreams, and real-world exploration. 378 381 640
• Responds to player feedback and suggestions, including directly adopting a fan’s proposal as the basis for Deserted Island Relocation Plan. 457

Industry Leadership

Ethan Vale’s influence extends beyond Sprout’s internal development.

• Helped EA improve a major project through direct review, strict revision demands, and assistance with server capacity. 157 162 221
• Guided Ubisoft’s development team on design philosophy and supervised the recruitment of stunt performers for motion capture. 294 297
• Hosted industry exchanges during the Great Xia Game Expo and openly shared principles of player-centered game design with other developers. 386 402
• Encourages competition and growth rather than monopolizing the industry, allowing other companies to design distinctive expo booths and participate on equal footing. 371 378
• Founded Sprout Riders Republic Media to document and support extreme-sports athletes and their challenges. 370

Equipment / Items

• Game Creation System — A system that rewards Ethan Vale for collecting “Super Difficult” survey responses. Its first documented task awarded Holographic Projection Technology after he received 1,000 qualifying ratings. 1 87
• Holographic Projection Technology — System-awarded technology used to create immersive public demonstrations and holographic game experiences. 87 119
• Game pods — Immersive gaming devices capable of gathering physical data, producing body-based in-game models, and enabling advanced player and spectator experiences. 234 374
• Design documents — Detailed project materials used to direct Sprout Studio’s development work, including the Dead Cells and This War of Mine plans. 6 20
• Black Star account — His verified public identity as Sprout Studio’s chief designer. 15
• Sprout game museum and character assets — Facilities and preserved character materials intended to celebrate gaming history and support future game-themed attractions. 267 511
• Rare Fire Keeper figurine — A limited collectible Ethan Vale gave to Tom after learning of the disabled café employee’s dedication during Sprout’s real-world card event. 644

Relationships

• Song Shan — Friend, early collaborator, and Sprout Studio shareholder. Song Shan was the original owner’s closest friend and joined Ethan Vale in founding the studio. Ethan Vale trusts him with major projects despite Song Shan’s insecurity and slower growth. 6 20 367
• Carter — Head of Steam’s Great Xia region and a close business ally. He arranged Sprout Studio’s international distribution, secured Ethan Vale a twenty-year 90–10 revenue-sharing agreement, and later chose to remain in Great Xia because of his confidence in Ethan Vale. 18 19 29
• Evan — Carter’s longtime friend and chief executive officer of Microsoft’s Xbox console division. Evan signs an exclusive console-distribution agreement with Ethan Vale after trusting Carter’s judgment. He later becomes one of Ethan Vale’s closest international partners in console, hardware, and game-development initiatives. 39 40 41 215 237
• Silver / Yinzi — Prominent streamer whose broadcasts helped make Ethan Vale’s first games widely known. He regularly calls Ethan Vale an “old thief” while supporting his work, promoting his awards campaigns, and serving as a frequent public tester of Sprout’s games. 3 15 42 522
• Shen Keke — First Game News interviewer. Her livestream challenge prompts Ethan Vale to make a Qixi Festival game, leading to Overcooked. 31 32 37
• Teng Feng — Yogame’s chief executive. He attempted to recruit Ethan Vale and acquire his work, but Ethan Vale rejected Yogame’s offers more than once. Despite their history, Ethan Vale later invited Teng Feng to Sprout’s industry exchange conference. 6 32 401 403
• Xie Lingjiang (Jiang Jiang) — Ethan Vale’s childhood friend and a skilled game-engine student. After her burn injuries left her isolated and unwilling to seek treatment, Ethan Vale offered her a job at Sprout and supported her recovery. She later became a trusted employee who supervises important project details. 57 58 59 88 133
• Xie Bing — Xie Lingjiang’s father. Initially protective of his daughter, he came to trust Ethan Vale and remains profoundly grateful for the opportunity and treatment Ethan Vale provided her. 58 59 133
• Xu Xinghai — Head of Star Sea Animation Films, film director, business partner, and Ethan Vale’s girlfriend. Their working relationship began through animation negotiations and developed into a public romantic relationship as Ethan Vale supported her independence and career ambitions. 177 215 393 394 476
• Father Ye and Mother Ye — Ethan Vale’s parents. Although they initially struggle to understand the game industry, they are proud of his success and value that he has remained caring despite his wealth and status. Father Ye later becomes a popular Call of the Wild streamer. 56 57 65 133 647
• Zhou Peng — A talented designer who publicly declared his desire to join Sprout at an awards ceremony. Ethan Vale recruited him and his team, later secretly collaborating with him on a romance-game project. 158 161 162
• Principal Wang — A wealthy game enthusiast, esports supporter, and business partner in Sprout’s planned IP park. Ethan Vale advises him on esports, film promotion, and the construction of a park built around Sprout’s expanding game and film characters. 437 473 511
• Deng Qi — A young extreme-sports athlete recruited by Ethan Vale for Sprout’s extreme-sports initiatives. Ethan Vale respects Deng Qi’s skill and determination while supporting his hope of securing treatment for his girlfriend Linlin. 370 371 436
• EA — A major external development partner whose staff regard Ethan Vale’s approval as exceptionally valuable. Ethan Vale pushes the company to improve its design standards while helping it address practical launch concerns such as server capacity. 157 162 221
• Ubisoft — An international collaborator that invited Ethan Vale to France for direct design guidance. Ethan Vale assists its developers with freedom of playstyles, infiltration mechanics, and the iconic Leap of Faith motion capture. 294 297

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Getting over it*

Ethan Vale enters the world as a newly transmigrated student and launches his first deliberately difficult game. Its viral success establishes his reputation, but Yogame’s removal of the game motivates him to pursue independence. 1 3 7

Founding Sprout Studio and *Dead Cells*

After rejecting Yogame’s acquisition offer, Ethan Vale and Song Shan use the first game’s earnings to found Sprout Studio and create Dead Cells. Its success finances the studio’s expansion and earns Ethan Vale the Black Star identity. 6 15 18

Steam Partnership

Carter approaches Ethan Vale after seeing Dead Cells’ potential. Ethan Vale secures a twenty-year Steam agreement with a 90–10 revenue split, contingent on releasing another game that sells over 300,000 copies before October. 18 19

*This War of Mine*

Ethan Vale rejects Song Shan’s proposal to make Dead Cells 2, instead directing the studio toward an anti-war survival game about civilians. This War of Mine later receives recognition from the World Anti-War Organization. 20 29 30

Qixi Festival and *Overcooked*

During a livestream interview, Ethan Vale accepts Shen Keke’s challenge to create a holiday game within a month. He develops Overcooked as a cooperative game intended to test and strengthen players’ relationships. 32 36 37

Console Partnership and Future Projects

Through Carter, Ethan Vale meets Evan and negotiates an agreement to bring his PC games exclusively to Xbox on consoles. He identifies Hollow Knight, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls as major upcoming projects. 39 40 41

Global Game Awards

Ethan Vale attends the Global Game Awards, where Sprout Studio wins Best Independent Game and Best Action Game for Dead Cells, Best Narrative Game for This War of Mine, Best Family Game for Overcooked, and Most Anticipated Game for Bloodborne: Curse. 44

*A Dance of Fire and Ice* and *Celeste*

Ethan Vale releases A Dance of Fire and Ice, a demanding rhythm game built around exceptional music, precise timing, and carefully designed calibration tools. Its popularity helps players and employees recognize the care behind his harsh design standards. 54 55

After returning home for the New Year and learning of Xie Lingjiang’s condition, Ethan Vale recruits her to Sprout. He later releases Celeste, a game whose emotional message and connection to Xie Lingjiang’s recovery lead players to reassess Old Thief as a gentle person. 56 58 59 61 65

E3 and *Bloodborne*

Ethan Vale attends E3 with Xbox’s support and presents Bloodborne to an international audience. The game’s preorder campaign exceeds 800,000 copies in ten minutes, confirming Sprout’s global commercial power. 73 76

After Bloodborne launches, Ethan Vale finally completes his first Game Creation System mission and receives Holographic Projection Technology. Players’ later “Very Easy” reviews demonstrate that the phrase has evolved into a mark of affection and approval. 87

Animation, Film, and Star Sea Acquisition

Ethan Vale expands Sprout’s IP ambitions through animation projects such as To the Moon and Pokémon. His partnership with Xu Xinghai eventually leads to the acquisition of Star Sea Animation Films, allowing Sprout to establish a dedicated animation and film-production arm. 177 178 214 215

Global Collaboration and New Technology

Ethan Vale guides EA through a major project while demanding stricter quality control, then travels to Ubisoft in France to advise on a historical action game’s infiltration systems and Leap of Faith motion capture. 157 221 294 297

At the same time, he advances Sprout’s holographic and game-pod technology, demonstrating immersive horror experiences and promoting hardware capable of using players’ physical data in-game. 119 234 326

Great Xia Game Expo

As host of the Great Xia Game Expo, Ethan Vale opens the event with a speech about his childhood gaming memories and Great Xia’s game-development history. He presents Monster Hunter, distributes collectible game cards and gifts, and makes the expo a venue for both major publishers and smaller studios. 378 379 381

Ethan Vale further uses the expo to encourage the domestic industry’s long-term growth, proposing recurring exchange meetings where developers can discuss games that genuinely meet players’ needs. 386 402

Relationship with Xu Xinghai

After their partnership deepens, Ethan Vale and Xu Xinghai publicly acknowledge their relationship. Ethan Vale invites her to meet his parents and supports her goal of becoming an independent director rather than merely remaining an extension of Sprout’s game division. 393 394 395 418 476

Expanding Sprout’s Entertainment Empire

Ethan Vale develops League of Legends as a free-to-play team game with non-pay-to-win cosmetics and more than a hundred distinct heroes. He also begins producing live-action projects and films, including Spider-Man, while planning a broader interconnected superhero catalogue. 399 510 605

He supports the construction of a Sprout IP park with Principal Wang, intending for it to incorporate game characters, film characters, and future properties as Sprout’s catalogue expands. 511 693

Extreme Sports and Survival Projects

Inspired by extreme sports and his own experiences, Ethan Vale founds Sprout Riders Republic Media to sponsor athletes and record their challenges. He recruits Deng Qi and other athletes while insisting that aspirations should be backed by professional training and safety awareness. 370 371

Later, a visit to Heavenly Lake inspires Ethan Vale to commit to The Long Dark, a fully hardcore survival game built around realistic cold-weather survival rather than fantasy mechanics. 443

Later Projects and Industry Mentorship

Ethan Vale continues initiating diverse projects, including Deserted Island Relocation Plan, a First Flame-era Souls game designed to be more difficult than Age of Ashes, and a citywide Dark Souls card-collection event. 457 611 640

He also continues identifying and nurturing talent within Sprout, allowing ambitious employees such as Li Ming to develop original work while maintaining the quality controls necessary for the studio’s reputation. 699 700

Notable Quotes

“My goal isn't big. I just want everyone to give me a ‘Super Difficult’!” 6

“Besides, wasn't it you people who said it was very easy?” 15

“With no woman in my heart, my sword naturally becomes divine.” 32

“If we run short of money, we'll just keep making games.” 37

“Then I guarantee that your term will surely last a long, long time.” 40

“If possible, I wanted to make a game that earned the highest praise a player could give a game: ‘Very Difficult.’” 45

“I just want to create joy for players with heart.” 54

“Humanity's hymn is courage; only humanity's courage shines brightly!” 436

Trivia

• Ethan Vale’s first game was made with free assets and reportedly cost zero yuan to develop. 1 18
• Players gave Ethan Vale the nickname “Old Thief” because of the difficulty and emotional cruelty of his games. 29
• He has repeatedly turned down Yogame, first rejecting its recruitment and copyright-buyout offer, then later refusing a ten-million-yuan annual salary. 6 32
• Although he initially sought “Super Difficult” ratings for his system, players repeatedly frustrated him by calling his games “Very Easy”; after Bloodborne, the phrase became a widely understood expression of approval. 45 46 87 158
• Ethan Vale is uncomfortable with being called gentle but is comparatively unbothered when players insult him as an “old thief” or a dog. 65
• His cousin Ye Cheng worked at Sprout Studio without realizing that his relative Ethan Vale was Black Star, despite repeatedly noting that the two looked alike. 163
• Ethan Vale’s parents prefer their old neighborhood to a large villa, so he purchased and connected the neighboring apartment rather than forcing them to relocate. 162 367
• The gaming media later described Ethan Vale as a designer whose work had cast a shadow over an entire era, while players celebrated the fact that a major awards ceremony made an exception to award Best Game twice. 161
• Ethan Vale’s relationship announcement with Xu Xinghai prompted players to jokingly declare that “Pure Love Warriors Fall at the Sound.” 394