NetEase Games has seen plenty of success with its MMORPG-styled games like Where Winds Meet in recent times, and it looks like the company is going to further expand its offerings. New trademark filings for a project titled ECC: Redline have been spotted on the website for EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) and USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office).
The trademark for ECC: Redline was first filed on September 21st across both regions, and is currently in “Awaiting Examination” phase of the project after the application was accepted by both offices. Details about ECC: Redline are scarce aside from the fact that it will be a video game and will feature MMORPG-styled online services and the potential for esports tournaments.
It is worth noting that NetEase itself hasn’t made any announcement regarding a project that might match the ECC: Redline title. Along with this, the trademark filings also make no mention of which platforms the company might end up targeting. Assuming the project remains on track for release, the company is likely to officially unveil it later this year before an eventual 2027 launch.
In the meantime, NetEase is also continuing its investment in single-player titles like Blood Message, which was unveiled last year. Developed by 24 Entertainment Lin’an, Blood Message has been described as a story-driven, cinematic game with linear levels. It is also noteworthy as NetEase’s first foray into single-player games following the success it has seen with multiplayer titles like Where Winds Meet and Marvel Rivals.
“We are ushering players into a new generation of high adventure with Blood Message,” said lead producer and executive vice president Zhipeng Hu when announcing the title. “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.”
More details about Blood Message were revealed back in June thanks to a video walkthrough that gave us our first look at its gameplay. The video included a mix of story moments, combat, and stealth sequences, with protagonist Pei Changguan investigating an abandoned store with another character named Arrtai. As things escalate, we get to see the two characters running through a series of buildings before getting into a fight.
The title features plenty of combat options, with a combination of light and heavy attacks at the player’s disposal as well as defensive options like blocking, parrying, and countering. Players can also take out downed enemies with executions to ensure that they don’t get back up. The trailer wrapped things up with Pei learning that the target he has been chasing has managed to escape to another place.
On the multiplayer side of things, Everstone Studio has continued its post-launch support for Where Winds Meet, having released Chapter 3 of its Hidden Mountain expansion earlier this month. For more details, check out our report detailing some of the new content that came with the Chapter 3 update.
