Regarding the scheduled launch of Fantasy, Moondustries kicked off an aggressive marketing blitz on day one, thoroughly dominating every corner of the media landscape. From official accounts and live-streaming to short video sites, all the way to massive subway posters and in-store game banners, Fantasy promotional material was everywhere. Just one hour after the game went live, Moondustries announced that sales had already surpassed 300,000 copies.
Inside the Fantasy development studio at Moondustries, Dwain reviewed the latest figures with a broad smile on his face.
"Steady? Of course it's steady!" After all, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim hadn't released anything new, just as he predicted.
As a veteran game producer, Dwain had a clear read on the industry. The only potential competition, the aforementioned Skyrim, had been stagnant. Though two popular and controversial mods had made waves earlier, they lacked sustained follow-up or fresh content. Players briefly reengaged out of nostalgia, but the lack of official mod support or extended gameplay meant their interest quickly faded.
During the same period, most competing releases came from second- and third-tier studios. None had the distribution strength or brand momentum of Moondustries. With this landscape, how could Fantasy lose? How could it possibly fail? It was practically guaranteed to succeed. Even with a few hiccups along the way, the outcome was falling perfectly into place.
While Dwain and the team at Moondustries celebrated Fantasy's early success, an unexpected piece of news dropped like a bomb.
Power Storm, the international AAA studio, had just announced its latest RPG title, Epic Continent. It was scheduled to launch in Asia, just two weeks after Fantasy. Rumors had circulated within the industry that Power Storm was working on something big, but no details had surfaced. As a foreign developer, their updates didn't garner much attention in China this year, especially with emerging domestic studios like PixelPioneers Studio becoming rising stars.
Still, Power Storm was no ordinary studio. As one of the industry's most respected names globally, even their silence generated anticipation. And this? No teasers, no countdown, no lead-up, just a sudden reveal. Game producers, media outlets, and players went into an instant frenzy.
"No way! Power Storm's new game just launched without a whisper?"
"I heard it was ready months ago, but it got held up during approval."
"What blows my mind is how Jiasheng managed to publish it, there was no public announcement at all."
"This summer's insane, so many heavy-hitters dropping back to back!"
"But honestly, launching without any marketing? Aren't they just setting themselves up to flop?"
"Flop? Are you kidding? Power Storm doesn't need traditional marketing. Their name alone guarantees buzz. That's the power of their brand."
"Exactly. When they make a move, fans pay attention. They could release a trailer tomorrow and it'd trend globally."
There was no denying that Power Storm, as a world-class developer, commanded respect and attention across both domestic and international markets.
Meanwhile, major companies like UEGame, Moondustries, and Gemtechs were stuck in a loop, churning out formulaic sequels every few months. Although they had the budget and infrastructure to pump out AAA-like titles, few dared take creative risks.
Power Storm, on the other hand, often spent years polishing a single game. Sometimes, they'd even scrap a nearly completed build and start over, just because it didn't meet their creative standards. It was this perfectionist mindset that elevated them to legendary status. Among players, it was commonly said: "If it's made by Power Storm, it's bound to be a masterpiece."
John, who had previously shown little interest in Fantasy, immediately shifted focus the moment he learned Epic Continent was real and imminent. Even though Skyrim had already sold over six million units and wasn't directly competing with Epic Continent, the name Power Storm alone was enough to draw his full attention.
In contrast, Dwain at Moondustries found himself staring blankly at the next day's sales data, eyes wide, expression dark.
"What kind of joke is this…? You sneak a AAA monster through, give zero warning, and go live like nothing happened? Are you allowed to be that powerful?"
"Sir, at least we had a head start," someone nearby offered. "Epic Continent launches in two weeks. We've already sold 1.8 million copies, and despite the sudden announcement, yesterday's sales still hit 600,000. Projected total? Over 3 million. That's far better than Sword of Kings."
Hearing that, Dwain's expression softened slightly.
"You're right. Fantasy is already outperforming Sword of Kings. At the very least, we'll turn a healthy profit," He nodded, trying to reassure himself as he reviewed the figures again.
Still, he couldn't shake the disappointment. He thought he had reached the pinnacle, until the real final boss appeared, and he realized he was just a mid-tier enemy.
As industry eyes turned toward the sudden shake-up, Ansoft and Power Storm quickly hosted a joint press conference. Not overseas, but locally. Journalists flew in from around the world, and even diehard fans made the journey. Such is the draw of Power Storm.
Watching the livestream, John couldn't help but feel driven. Yes, PixelPioneers Studio had risen quickly; it was a standout. But compared to the giants, they still had a long road ahead. Brand power was what let Power Storm launch without warning and still dominate. Because in their case, silence was marketing.
As John reflected, the Epic Continent press conference hit full stride. Reporters asked their questions, and soon Steven, President of Power Storm and lead producer of Epic Continent, took the stage.
Under the eyes of players, developers, and the global press, Steven made an unexpected announcement. Or perhaps…
A declaration.