Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 236: The Wolf Arrives

"For the PVZ project, Brother Yun, I'll need you to take on more responsibility. The main project won't be able to provide much support..."

"No problem, Director Gu. The main project takes priority. I guarantee we'll complete our mission..."

"As for Sato-san, the reason I'm moving the main project to Steel Chain Fingers is precisely because this ga's style leans towards Japanese aesthetics. I'll need you and Yuki to put in extra effort..."

"Understood, Mr. Gu. Steel Chain Fingers won't fail our mission..."

"Alright, that's basically it for today's eting. Everyone get to work - notify who needs notifying, prepare what needs preparing..."

"YES—!!!"

A unified response echoed as everyone stood up.

"Oh, wait—"

Just as they were halfway up, Da Jiang suddenly rembered sothing and asked:

"Sheng-ge, what's the na of our main project? Or its codena?"

Hearing this, everyone paused and turned to Gu Sheng.

The spin-off project for Plants vs. Zombies had already been decided - "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare," or simply "Garden Warfare" for short.

But the na of the main project had yet to be revealed by Gu Sheng.

"Oh, I almost forgot—"

Gu Sheng slapped his forehead:

"It's called 'Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice'"

"'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice'"

The wolf was coming.

A completely unprecedented action ga for this world was about to make its debut.

Though in Gu Sheng's previous life, this ga's investnt wasn't particularly high - not even qualifying as a AAA title.

But in this world!

With the enhancent of the motion assist system, Gu Sheng would bring it into motion-sensing pods, allowing countless players to experience the heart-pounding thrill of personally forging steel!

They would face the massive and frenzied Chained Ogre, the wild and violent Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa, the terrifying charging Bull, and the bizarre and unruly Corrupted Monk.

They would leap from the rooftops of Ashina Castle, grasping wind and lightning to counter Genichiro's lightning.

They would dodge and weave through reed marshes, matching blades with the Sword Saint Isshin in his pri!

The flas of war in Ashina had been ignited, and the loyal, valiant wolves were about to awaken!

Would they beco slaves to emotion, dying repeatedly under Gu Sheng's manipulation? Or would they resurrect endlessly to beco the shinobi who severs immortality?

All would be revealed when this ga made its debut!

And what players didn't know was!

When soone finally severed immortality, even greater challenges would await them in the future.

Because in distant Lothric—the fire fades, and no lords sit on the thrones!

Three years!

Gu Sheng's grand masterpiece plan could finally be fully revealed!

Sekiro would be his first step.

At the sa ti, it would also be Golden Wind's first foray into true 3S-level masterpieces!

They would cross distant seas to Neon, engaging in their first real confrontation with Kora!

Thinking of this!

Gu Sheng couldn't help but feel his blood surge with excitent!

And looking beside him, Little Nezha was also bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

Only the two of them remained in the conference room.

Gu Sheng smiled: "Our first 3S-level masterpiece - excited?"

Seeing Little Nezha like this, Gu Sheng felt gratified.

Perseverance prevails!

Thinking back, Little Nezha used to be completely clueless about gas and the industry.

But now, hearing their company would step onto the international stage to develop 3S-level masterpieces, she was getting excited too!

Her awareness had clearly improved!

Well done, Comrade Shen!

My heart is greatly comforted!

"Ah... haha, excited, excited..."

Seeing the approving light in Gu Sheng's eyes, Shen Miaomiao felt sowhat undeserving.

Sorry, Old Gu, but we're probably excited about different things.

Admittedly!

Golden Wind's first 3S-level project was indeed exciting!

But the loss prospects for Garden Warfare, that dumb project, were even more thrilling!

Yes.

Shen Miaomiao's excitent mainly stemd from Garden Warfare.

That genius project where players beca plant people and dancing king zombies.

With ridiculous concepts, insufficient manpower, and low expectations.

Basically just a tool project.

Unloved by all, a perfect money-losing venture!

Unfurling the docunt in her mind:

[Sub-project: Plants vs. Zombies - Garden Warfare]

[Project investnt: 38 million yuan]

[Project settlent ti: 7 days ( 0 days)]

[Project return multiplier: 15x ( 0x)]

[Current revenue: 0 yuan]

[Expected returns: 570 million yuan]

[Remaining settlent ti: Awaiting start]

Total investnt: 38 million!

Originally, Gu Sheng's estimated total cost was 35-38 million yuan.

But Shen Miaomiao always preferred higher estimates.

If Gu Sheng hadn't been worried that excessive costs might prevent recouping over 20 million in revenue, she would have pushed the project cost to 50 million!

More investnt ans more losses!

Of course!

38 million wasn't exactly low either.

Especially with an opening 15x return multiplier!

One week settlent ti!

Maximum returns of 570 million!

Although!

Compared to Escape from Hell's 100x multiplier, 15x seed sowhat small.

But considering that in a 38 million project, even losing about 660,000 yuan could yield returns of 10 million!

Ten million!

The last ti she saw returns like that was during the Left 4 Dead project!

If it loses just a bit more!

Maybe not enough for a yacht, but definitely enough for a yacht's lifeboat!

Slow accumulation!

After all, Golden Wind was now operating with dual-core developnt, doubling ga output.

Today saving for a lifeboat, tomorrow for an engine, the day after for decking and a private helicopter.

A luxury yacht would be complete in no ti!

Happy!

Shen Miaomiao was very satisfied.

She even dragged Gu Sheng to the supermarket after work to buy ingredients and bake little cakes at ho.

As the sun set in the west.

Gu Sheng stood by the counter, preparing ingredients.

With a "ding" from the oven!

Shen Miaomiao's voice followed:

"Whoo! Great success!"

Speaking, she brought over a tray of steaming little cakes with oven mitts.

Blowing on them, she carefully popped various shaped cakes from the molds, fanning the steam with small hand gestures before gingerly picking up a star-shaped cake.

Blowing on it: "Hoo—hoo—try it!"

Gu Sheng opened his mouth to accept the offering. The fluffy thumb-sized cake was sweet with a milky fragrance.

"How is it?"

Shen Miaomiao pinched her earlobes, perhaps because the freshly baked cakes were still hot.

Her large eyes brimd with expectation, her small face flushed.

"Hmm—"

Gu Sheng smacked his lips:

"Didn't quite taste it, need another one."

Shen Miaomiao unsuspectingly gave him another.

"Tsk, not deep enough, one more..."

"Ah, getting interesting, one more would be perfect..."

By the seventh cake!

Shen Miaomiao finally sensed sothing amiss!

"Are you Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit?! You're about to eat all my little cakes!"

Realizing she'd been tricked, Little Nezha beca flustered and jumped onto Gu Sheng's back, shaking him to return her cakes.

"Hahahaha delicious, aren't they delicious? I just wanted more because they're so good,"

Gu Sheng laughed heartily, swaying side to side:

"Get down now, I need to cook."

"No! Cook like this! Good exercise!"

Little Nezha's pale, slender arms tightly encircled Gu Sheng's neck, her legs wrapped around his waist, pink feet locked in front of him like a koala refusing to let go:

"You tricked my cakes, so as paynt you have to be my rocking horse! Sing!"

A faint peach-like fragrance wafted over as Gu Sheng chuckled, washing vegetables while bouncing Little Nezha on his back: "Left hand a chicken, right hand a duck, carrying a chubby baby on my back, yi ya yi ya yo..."

Before he finished, Little Nezha booped his nose:

"Next song! I'm not chubby!"

The setting sun.

Golden-red light stread through the kitchen's large glass window, illuminating two faces nestled together in laughter...

......

Soon.

News about "developing a Plants vs. Zombies spin-off" quickly spread.

According to "reliable rumors": This ti, capitalizing on PVZ's global influence, Golden Wind would make "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare" their main project for focused developnt, with both Golden Experience and Steel Chain Fingers collaborating on production.

Once announced!

Discussions erupted from all sides.

So believed combining "FPS" and "Plants vs. Zombies" was a winning hand for Golden Wind.

After all, Golden Wind excelled at shooters - from Left 4 Dead to APEX, they'd created myth after myth, innovation after innovation.

Add Plants vs. Zombies - that breakout IP selling 7 million copies worldwide in its first week.

Such a combination would undoubtedly be top-tier, potentially rivaling Titanfall's glory days if given sufficient budget and developnt ti!

But others sensed Golden Wind's decline.

For no other reason than the ga's na - Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare.

At best, it's a spin-off.

At worst, it's riding on its predecessor's coattails.

While this might be standard practice for most developers worldwide.

For Golden Wind, so blatantly referencing a previous title for their main project was concerning.

Because until now, Golden Wind had been known for "not counting to 2"!

Vampire Survivors - revolutionary genre creator!

No sequel.

Left 4 Dead - groundbreaking FPS!

No sequel.

Titanfall - ceiling-shattering shooter!

No sequel.

To many, Golden Wind was like an eternally flowing river, with Gu Sheng as its source of inspiration.

His ideas were too nurous! The brilliant concepts he wanted to share with the world too many!

He simply had no ti for sequels!

Even the only quasi-sequel, APEX, was rely released as Titanfall's multiplayer complent!

Thus.

This Garden Warfare would be Golden Wind's first true derivative work riding on a previous IP's success.

And their main project at that!

What did this an?

"Does this an the supernova is burning out?"

"Does this an Golden Wind has lost its innovative spark?"

"Or does this an the rising star of China's gaming scene will fade into diocrity?"

"Hahahaha what the hell... just writing nonsense all day..."

Yiyou Technology CEO's office!

Yan Sheng browsed through articles disparaging Golden Wind by keyword, laughed, and tossed his phone aside.

Then leisurely sipped his tea.

Opposite him was Deputy Director Lao Zhao, who'd co to report on Golden Wind's seemingly negative recent developnts.

Unexpectedly, Yan Sheng showed no concern after reading.

Lao Zhao couldn't help but ask:

"Director Yan, Golden Wind is our flagship partner, but this current trend seems worrying."

"Ah—Lao Zhao, 'our flagship' isn't quite accurate,"

Yan Sheng waved his hand, gesturing for Li Xiaofeng to drink tea:

"Golden Wind and us have always been partners,"

"We're not like XunTeng with their in-house studios. We can't claim them as ours. Besides..."

Here.

Yan Sheng paused before continuing:

"While Golden Wind's rapid rise is sowhat related to Yiyou,"

"At this rate, I'll soon need to visit Little Director Shen with gifts, invite Deputy Director Gu to dinners..."

Hiss—

Hearing this.

Lao Zhao hesitated before asking:

"Director Yan ans... we can trust Golden Wind's 'PVZ reputation FPS genre' winning combination?"

Yet.

Hearing this, Yan Sheng paused before bursting into laughter:

"Winning? Win what? A small experintal ga with minor investnt, launching on motion-sensing pods - how big could it possibly be?"

"Ah?"

Yan Sheng's words clearly confused Lao Zhao:

"But... isn't this... Golden Wind's main project?"

"Main project my foot,"

Yan Sheng waved dismissively, pushing the teacup toward Lao Zhao:

"If it were really their main project, why no cost announcent?"

"If it were really their main project, why only rumors?"

"If it were really their main project, why hasn't Golden Wind shown any promotional signs?"

This—

Yan Sheng's rapid-fire questions left Lao Zhao speechless.

True.

By Golden Wind's usual standards, once a project was confird, even without full promotion, their official accounts or Gu Sheng's personal social dia would at least ntion it.

But this ti.

Information about Garden Warfare seed purely speculative.

Golden Wind hadn't acknowledged this so-called "main project."

"So...?"

Realization dawned on Lao Zhao!

"So this isn't actually their main project?!"

"Haha,"

Yan Sheng chuckled knowingly, wearing an enigmatic smile as if privy to secrets:

"Lao Zhao, tidy up our current projects, get everything in order,"

"If all goes well,"

"When next quarter begins,"

"We'll have a real battle on our hands..."