When John was busy contemplating how to improve his directing skills, online players finally achieved full completion of White Album, unlocking the final route. The third ending, hinted at earlier by John on the official blog, unfolded with a sorrowful, lingering background music. Voice actresses for the lead characters delivered lines that shook players to their core with emotional intensity:
"The White Album means nothing anymore, for there are no songs left worth singing. Love that cannot be conveyed is no longer needed, because no one remains worth loving."
A perfect reunion, yet no one remains.
After the release of the White Album strategy guide, everyone who followed the game was stunned, unable to accept what they had just witnessed. What was this pain?
"Why? Why end it like this? Where's the happiness we were promised!?"
"For the first time, I fall in love with a game, no, a beautifully crafted romance game, and joy upon joy piles up. It should have been a dreamlike happiness, a climax of emotion… so why, in the end, is this what we are left with…?"
"No, no, I swear I'm mailing a knife to PixelPioneers Studio for this ending!"
Countless players were struck emotionally in an instant. Forums erupted like dry grass in summer flames. Yet, while White Album players were drowning in heartbreak, female players next door in The Road of Starlight experienced the opposite, radiant sweetness.
Handsome men everywhere, CEOs who seem cold but harbor tender care, righteous police officers with warmth behind their stern duty, innocent artists with loyal devotion, all meticulously crafted to strike straight at a girl's heart. Even the clichés landed flawlessly, thanks to meticulous detail and thoughtful emotional cues.
Holiday greetings via voice messages, birthday surprises, spontaneous events triggering exclusive storylines, every element soaked in warmth. Meanwhile, on the White Album side, mournful notes of "love that cannot be conveyed" echoed beneath a sky of gently falling snow, freezing players' hearts like a sudden winter front. Why must stories diverge so sharply?
In response to the uproar over the third ending, John remained calm, asserting that he bore no responsibility. He claimed he would never lie; this ending was Christy's idea, not his. And unlike him, Christy was thrilled to watch players' emotional meltdown.
"This is fire." Despite threats of knives and curses, he understood that it meant hearts had been pierced, and tragedy, like all lasting memories, would linger. Compared to stories where the heroine simply disappears into nothingness, he believed this ending was almost merciful.
Though White Album caused a massive shockwave, it remained a mobile title. It couldn't reach the towering global heat of Resident Evil Resistance or The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.
Most fans of those franchises had their eyes fixed on another name: Metal Gear.
John clearly sensed the player's anticipation. If he could, he would release Metal Gear immediately, but reality tethered his ambitions. It was nowhere near ready.
Meanwhile, the first DLC for Red Alert was nearly complete. The expansion depicted the chain reactions leading to World War. To ground the scenario, a modern history specialist was brought in to revise unrealistic segments and bolster plausibility. War had existed in reality, just never on such a catastrophic scale.
This time, John hosted a full press conference, inviting game media and preparing broadcasts across all major platforms. There were vital messages players needed to hear, including Martel's progress report on Resident Evil 2, scheduled for reveal.
As soon as the Mercury Studio press release went live, players erupted. For months, PixelPioneers Games had made loud promises but delivered little: strategy expansions, experimental formats, and discussions without blockbuster results. Good games, yes, but not the triple-A juggernauts fans yearned for.
Games like Red Alert, Auto Chess, and Starlight Album had loyal audiences and even gained traction among non-gamers, but none satisfied the craving for massive, cinematic worlds like Resident Evil 2 or Metal Gear.
John had once blogged about a new triple-A masterpiece called Metal Gear in development, but months had passed without updates. Expectations cooled, then simmered, then nearly faded. But not anymore. PixelPioneers announced a full plot showcase, and hope was reignited like gasoline on a flame.
Communities exploded with discussion:
"Haha, finally something new! Are they revealing dates for Resident Evil 2 or Metal Gear?"
"Very likely. Metal Gear may still be in the works, but Resident Evil Resistance, Resident Evil, and Resident Evil Chess show the IP is expanding. The second game should be huge."
"Auto Chess? Red Alert? Fun, sure, but I want war. I want cinematic chaos. And White Album destroyed me emotionally, never letting me off the hook…"
"Why do White Album fans pop up everywhere??"
"Focus! Metal Gear! Resident Evil 2! Nothing else matters!"
"Hush, maintain dignity~ No scandals today. July rankings are coming; Christy must survive! Lily forever!"
While fans roared with anticipation, John faced a darker reality. A video call connected him to Martel in his office. Both stared at each other, expressionless.
"So…" John exhaled. "Resident Evil 2 is only just past pre-production?"
Martel raised his hands helplessly. "What could I do? The studio barely had enough staff. I had to hire outside programming and art teams. For such a short timeline, forming a full development group was already a miracle!"
It made sense. Unfortunately, it changed nothing. Aside from Red Alert, almost nothing was ready to be revealed. Would the conference end in triumph or disaster? A reveal with no content? A press event collapsing mid-broadcast?
The countdown had begun.