At the start of the new year, the future plans of Northstar Games became the most anticipated topic across the gaming industry. Over the past two years, Northstar had expanded far beyond just making games. They had stepped into anime, music, and cross-media storytelling, building a strong entertainment empire. Because of that, every move they made now carried weight.
Gamers were watching.
Anime fans were watching.
Music lovers were watching.
Everyone wanted to know what surprise Northstar would bring this year.
On January 22nd, just one day after Rachel Quinn returned from her overseas trip, Northstar suddenly released a major announcement online. The message was posted on the company's Official Blog, and simultaneously uploaded to BiliZone, Skybound, and several major gaming communities.
The content was short.
But the impact was explosive.
Media professionals from every large gaming platform immediately reacted. Influencers. Developers. Streamers. Journalists. No one could stay calm.
Because this time, Northstar was doing something it had never done before.
For two years, Northstar Games had relied on a relaxed strategy. They released games quietly. They used simple online marketing. Players spread the word through pure passion. Their games grew because they were good — not because they were loud.
But now?
Northstar Games announced its first offline game press conference.
Not online.
Not prerecorded.
A full offline event.
That single sentence shook the industry.
Why?
Because an offline conference meant access.
It meant interviews.
It meant direct questions.
It meant content creators could film on site, capture reactions, create trending videos, and ride the wave of Northstar's popularity.
And right now, Northstar was undeniably the hottest game developer in the country.
In terms of pure size or revenue, they were not the biggest.
But in terms of reputation?
Quality?
Player loyalty?
They stood at the top.
In the gaming world, there is always a debate — quality versus traffic.
Some bad games become hits through aggressive marketing. Some excellent games stay unnoticed until players fight to promote them themselves.
But Northstar proved something important.
In the long run, quality wins.
And because of that, invitations to this conference became more valuable than gold.
Of course, this event was not open to the public. Entry required an official invitation. If anyone could walk in freely, Northstar would not be Northstar.
On January 24th, Ethan Reed and Vivian Frost personally sent out digital invitations.
The location?
The largest stadium in Lumen City.
The company office was far too small. Vivian rented the stadium weeks in advance and began organizing preparations.
The setup was simple but powerful — rows of clean chairs, Northstar logo merchandise displayed carefully, and a massive electronic screen installed above the main stage.
By February 3rd, another important team returned.
Daniel and his overseas development group arrived back from America, still carrying travel fatigue but glowing with confidence. Their trip had changed them.
Thanks to Northstar's previous global hits like Animal Party and Stardew Valley, foreign developers welcomed them warmly. While no one revealed secrets, they answered questions and shared advice.
That experience broadened their vision.
When Daniel stepped back into the office, his presence felt sharper. Stronger.
"We're holding an offline conference?" he asked.
"Yes," Ethan replied. "You came back just in time. Adjust the 2077 demo again. I need the final version within days."
Daniel smiled calmly. "The demo is ready. Only minor shadow and color tuning remains. I'll deliver it the day after tomorrow."
The 2077 demo was short — just a brief gameplay showcase.
But every second of it cost enormous money.
Every frame burned resources.
The visuals?
Unmatched.
The atmosphere?
Heavy, neon, alive.
By February 6th, everything was ready.
At exactly 2 PM, Northstar's first offline press conference would begin.
At nine in the morning, Vivian Frost and Ethan Reed arrived at the stadium.
Employees rushed through final checks. The massive screen towered over the empty seats. Though the venue could hold three thousand people, Northstar invited only five hundred.
Five hundred carefully chosen guests.
Top gaming bloggers.
High-ranking journalists.
Major streamers from BiliZone.
Platform executives.
Industry peers.
The event would also be livestreamed on Skybound and BiliZone.
By noon, guests began arriving steadily.
Vivian stood near the entrance, dressed sharply in a fitted black suit. A white shirt beneath. Straight-leg trousers. Short heels. Her hair tied high in a confident ponytail.
She looked calm.
Capable.
Like a CEO born for this moment.
But backstage, she leaned slightly toward Ethan and whispered, "Do I really have to go on stage first?"
Ethan smiled. "You're the CEO. Of course you do."
She swallowed.
The confident executive mask cracked slightly.
But Ethan?
He was nervous too.
This conference was more than just 2077.
Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 would be the centerpiece.
But Ethan had prepared something bigger.
Last year, Northstar dominated anime. Pokémon. Edgerunners. K-On! They shook multiple industries.
But Northstar was not just an anime studio.
They were a game company.
And this year—
This year would be the true Year of Northstar Games.
At 2 PM sharp, the lights dimmed.
The curtain slowly opened.
Vivian walked onto the stage.
Spotlights surrounded her. Cameras zoomed in. Hundreds of eyes stared.
For a brief second, her gaze lost focus.
Then she smiled.
"Good afternoon. I am Vivian Frost, CEO of Northstar Games."
Her voice was steady.
Clear.
"We are honored to welcome you to Northstar's first offline press conference. Our mission has always been simple — to create games players truly love."
She paused.
"And today, we are here because of that love."
She placed her hand over her chest and bowed gracefully.
The first offline conference in Northstar history had officially begun.
Applause filled the stadium.
Backstage, Ethan noticed something amusing.
Vivian's eyes were slightly unfocused.
She was probably imagining the audience as vegetables to avoid stage fright.
But it worked.
On stage, she looked unstoppable.
After her opening speech, she continued:
"Now, please welcome our Chief Planner and Game Director — Ethan Reed."
The applause intensified.
Ethan walked onto the stage with a relaxed smile.
Online comments exploded in real time during the livestream.
[The CEO and Director duo is unbeatable!]
[Northstar's own power couple!]
[This is better than reality TV!]
Ethan raised his hand slightly.
"Good afternoon. I won't waste time. Let's talk about what you really care about."
He held a small remote.
"Let's begin with the games Northstar will release this year."
He pressed the button.
The giant screen lit up.
Adorable animated characters appeared first — small creatures running in chaotic patterns.
Laughter spread across the audience.
But Ethan did not explain immediately.
He let the image settle.
Then he said slowly:
"Before we discuss Cyberpunk 2077… we need to talk about something else."
The screen changed.
Neon lights flickered.
Rain fell across dark city streets.
A distant engine roared.
And then—
The Cyberpunk 2077 demo footage began playing.
Gasps filled the hall.
The lighting.
The character models.
The city density.
Every detail screamed next-generation quality.
The neon reflections looked real.
Vehicles moved with weight.
Crowds reacted dynamically.
Gunfire echoed across towering buildings.
This was no small project.
This was a declaration.
As the demo ended, the screen faded to black.
Then one sentence appeared:
"This is only the beginning."
Silence.
Then—
Thunderous applause.
Industry journalists exchanged shocked looks.
Streamers stared at their cameras speechless.
Because what they just witnessed was not a simple game trailer.
It was a statement.
Northstar was not playing safe anymore.
They were aiming for global dominance.
Ethan stood calmly at center stage.
"This year," he said clearly, "Northstar Games returns to its core."
He looked across the audience.
"We make games."
He paused again.
"And we are just getting started."
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