NetEase's first AAA single-player game is packed with brutal action and gorgeous cinematics in a promising blend fans say looks "like a Tang Dynasty take on Uncharted"

(Image credit: 24 Entertainment, NetEase Games)

When I first saw an email in my inbox with the subject line Blood Message I was a little concerned, but it turns out it's the name of an upcoming AAA game set during the final years of China's Tang Dynasty – around 900 AD.

The trailer for Blood Message is impressive, showing off brutal third-person sword combat and giving a hint of the Uncharted series in its more choreographed moments. You play as a nameless messenger looking for his son Ning, crossing hot, sandy deserts and the snowy wilderness of central Asia.

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Rather than stepping into the shoes of a famous general or legendary figure, Blood Message is all about "ordinary people driven by extraordinary resolve."

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"This is the kind of game all those AAA studios should've been making instead of live services," one YouTube commenter writes. And, I'm not the only one who thought the game felt like Naughty Dog's action epics. "Finally we get Uncharted 5," writes another commenter. "It's like a Tang Dynasty take on Uncharted and I'm here for it, looks sick," agrees another.

Developed by NetEase-owned 24 Entertainment, which made Naraka: Bladepoint, a free-to-play melee battle royale, Blood Message shows that China's video game industry is continuing to try and appeal to PC and console players with cinematic adventures.

"We are ushering players [into] a new generation of high adventure with Blood Message," says lead producer and NetEase executive vice president Zhipeng Hu. "As our first completely single-player focused experience from NetEase Games, after two decades of deep dedication to the gaming industry, we are prepared to deliver a truly epic and cinematic experience for players around the world."

Blood Message doesn't currently have a release window, but it is set to come to consoles and PC.

In the meantime, check out all the confirmed upcoming games you have to look forward to.

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I'm Issy, a freelancer who you'll now occasionally see over here covering news on GamesRadar. I've always had a passion for playing games, but I learned how to write about them while doing my Film and TV degrees at the University of Warwick and contributing to the student paper, The Boar. After university I worked at TheGamer before heading up the news section at Dot Esports. Now you'll find me freelancing for Rolling Stone, NME, Inverse, and many more places. I love all things horror, narrative-driven, and indie, and I mainly play on my PS5. I'm currently clearing my backlog and loving Dishonored 2.

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