You could easily confuse the next action game Blood message for a first-party PlayStation title. Set in ancient China, it mixes thrilling sequences with brutal combat and cutscenes with a high level of cinematic flair.
I got a first look at the game at Summer Game Fest 2026 and had the chance to speak exclusively with Senior Director of Global Publishing Jeff Hu, who describes it as a “dream” for developer 24 Entertainment.
“We’re all gamers. We grew up with so many great titles,” he begins. “Creating a AAA game is the dream of every member of the team, and after many years of experience with other titles, we thought now would be a good time to try making a game like this.”
He explains that the general direction was chosen because it is “the best way to tell this story”, but does not hesitate to mention some inspirations.
“We are all fans of so many great titles, like Unexploredas The last of us,” he said. “Different members have their own favorites, but we are all inspired by different great titles.”
Universal appeal
Blood Message follows an unnamed soldier in the late Tang dynasty, circa 850 AD, but Hu says its themes are timeless and will resonate with gamers everywhere today.
“This story happened in the Tang Dynasty, and this story is so magical,” he explains.
“[The hero travels with his son] from Western China to the East to convey a very important message about their victory to the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Chang’an, so that we can use different landscapes and allow players to experience different elements.
“We chose a very unique angle in that we chose an anonymous soldier himself to tell this story, and we also combined that with the emotional connection between father and son. There are so many universal emotions.”
Between the action-packed chases, tense stealth sections, and all-out bloody brawls, I really enjoyed the unique aesthetic of the game world. China’s deserts are rarely explored in video games, and I imagine its clay huts and flimsy robes will surprise many players.
Hu is careful to point out that the game is not intended to be a history lesson.
“We chose this story not because we are trying to make a Western audience learn or understand something,” he says. “We think it’s a good story to connect with human nature.”
However, he believes that audiences less familiar with the setting “will have a better understanding of ancient China” after having fully “experienced the story”.
You may have to wait a bit before getting started because Blood Message does not yet have a release date. The team has confirmed that it will be coming to both PC and consoles.
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