"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 game'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 meeting. 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 remembered something and asked:

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 name 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 game for this world was about to make its debut.

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

But in this world!

With the enhancement 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 prime!

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

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

All would be revealed when this game made its debut!

And what players didn't know was!

When someone 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 same time, 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 Komera!

Thinking of this!

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

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 games 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 somewhat 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 excitement mainly stemmed from Garden Warfare.

That genius project where players became 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 document in her mind:

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

[Project investment: 38 million yuan]

[Project settlement time: 7 days (+0 days)]

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

[Current revenue: 0 yuan]

[Expected returns: 570 million yuan]

[Remaining settlement time: Awaiting start]

Total investment: 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 investment means more losses!

Of course!

38 million wasn't exactly low either.

Especially with an opening 15x return multiplier!

One week settlement time!

Maximum returns of 570 million!

Although!

Compared to Escape from Hell's 100x multiplier, 15x seemed somewhat 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 time 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 development, doubling game 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 time!

Happy!

Shen Miaomiao was very satisfied.

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

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 brimmed 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 something amiss!

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

Realizing she'd been tricked, Little Nezha became 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 payment 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 streamed 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 time, capitalizing on PVZ's global influence, Golden Wind would make "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare" their main project for focused development, with both Golden Experience and Steel Chain Fingers collaborating on production.

Once announced!

Discussions erupted from all sides.

Some 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 development time!

But others sensed Golden Wind's decline.

For no other reason than the game's name - 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 numerous! The brilliant concepts he wanted to share with the world too many!

He simply had no time for sequels!

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

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 mean?

"Does this mean the supernova is burning out?"

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

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

"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 come to report on Golden Wind's seemingly negative recent developments.

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 somewhat 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 means... 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 experimental game with minor investment, 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 announcement?"

"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 confirmed, even without full promotion, their official accounts or Gu Sheng's personal social media would at least mention it.

But this time.

Information about Garden Warfare seemed 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..."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com