Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 1028: Countless People Flock to It

"I imagine all of you players have been waiting for this moment. You've probably long anticipated the opening of our showcase."

"Takayuki! I love you!"

"Takayuki! You're a god to me!"

"Oh my god, it's Takayuki himself hosting the event! This is huge—we haven't seen him personally present a game in years!"

"Just for Takayuki being on stage and in that outfit, I'm pre-ordering Cyberpunk 2077 right now! Open the preorder window, please!"

By now, Takayuki had almost attained a mythical status. The moment he appeared, a wave of excitement and adoration swept through the audience.

Takayuki loved this kind of atmosphere. He mused that for future major game launches, maybe he should host them personally more often. Letting others do it would mean missing out on the thrill of being admired by so many.

"I'm here today for one reason only: to finally unveil a game we've been carefully refining for years. At the same time, we're officially beginning to expand this IP beyond the game itself. We want this series to shine in many more places."

"Alright, I've said enough. Let's move on to the official gameplay preview, so you can all experience what a true next-generation game feels like."

"No! We want more of you! Let us keep watching Takayuki!"

"Yeah! Say more, Takayuki!"

Just a moment ago, many of these players were groaning about long-winded hosts wasting their time. But now that Takayuki was on stage, they suddenly had all the patience in the world.

After all, it's not every day you get to see the top figure in gaming live.

In this world, Takayuki's status probably matched that of legends like Satoru Iwata or Shigeru Miyamoto. Decades of consistently releasing top-tier games had built him a massive following.

And in some ways, he might even surpass them—since, unlike the legends from the original world, Takayuki had never had a major public failure.

The crowd's reluctance to let him go could've turned into a problem if not handled properly.

But Takayuki remained calm:"No can do. We've got a packed schedule today. Watch the trailer carefully—this is the star of the show. And if you still want to see more of me, wait for the Q&A session later. I'll be here the whole day answering your questions!"

"Yeah!!"

"Long live Takayuki!"

The players cheered, and the venue dimmed once again, with only the massive main screen glowing at the front.

Suddenly, the screen flared to life, revealing a dazzling city bathed in light.

Night City. A place countless people dream of reaching.

The trailer opened with elegantly dressed people living in beautiful homes. A mother and child prepared to leave, a flying car already waiting at the pad. The child wore a flashy VR headset, clearly immersed in some sort of virtual world.

The mother gently lifted the child into the car and said, "Don't spend too long in the Oasis, or your allowance is gone. Got it?"

"Got it, Mom. You nag too much."

Oasis? That name sounded familiar...

Of course—it was from the Ready Player One movie!

Wait, does this mean that movie exists within the same universe as this game?

Damn it, I totally missed that. There must be more foreshadowing hidden in that film. I need to get a copy and go through it frame by frame—I can't afford to miss a single detail.

Most people had been too distracted by the flood of Easter eggs in Ready Player One to think much about the plot, which was decent but not groundbreaking. Jesse, the director, had elevated the movie through spectacle rather than narrative. No one had really analyzed the worldbuilding.

The trailer continued.

In the lower left corner, a confident disclaimer appeared:

"All footage rendered in-engine. Final product will match or exceed this visual quality."

Now that was confidence.

Most game trailers cover their bases with "not actual gameplay footage" disclaimers. But Gamestar Entertainment declared outright that this was what players could expect—if not better.

Well, they did have Unreal Engine, the industry's big gun. No wonder they dared to boast.

The mother and child flew through the sky. The view of Night City unfolded around them.

In the distance, a massive spaceship was launching from a rocket facility. Closer by, similar flying cars buzzed through the sky.

Inside the car, elegant piano music played—an old composition by a classical master, giving off a refined, high-society vibe.

Everything felt calm and polished.

Until it wasn't.

Suddenly, a faint rocket launch noise pierced the air. Two seconds later, a missile slammed into the car's door. Alarms blared. The mother and child huddled together in terror.

Moments later, several armed figures dropped into the vehicle. Unfazed by the falling craft, they grinned wickedly, grabbed the passengers, and leapt out.

"Sorry to interrupt your morning, sir," one of them said coldly. "We're only here for the money. Have your family transfer five million dollars to this account. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll see the sunrise." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Choking silence.

Every player watching the showcase felt a sudden tightness in their chest.

"This is a cruel and merciless city."

"Even the rich aren't safe. Death could come at any time."

"And yet, people still rush in—dreaming of becoming legends in Night City."