The New Game

[A countdown appears on a black screen.]
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... 0.
A stream goes live. A young man, clearly excited, appears on the screen, adjusting his headset.
Abhishek (Streamer):
"Yo, what's up, guys? Welcome to another live stream! And man, oh man! I did not expect so many of you to hop in on such short notice. What can I say? We're kind of famous now, huh?"
"Alright, so today’s stream is going to be a little different. No gameplay, no crazy matches—just some serious discussion. And trust me, you want to hear this. If you're a fan of World Slasher, then you’re probably as shocked as I was when I woke up this morning to that email from the game developers."
"Dude, I was literally knocked out, enjoying my sleep, when Mayank called me, yelling at the top of his lungs. And you know, big decisions always seem to happen when you're asleep—like how your parents decide to give you a younger sibling without asking you."
(He chuckles.)
"Kidding, kidding! But seriously, this email... it’s insane. The first few lines had me in disbelief. But then, I saw the attachment—a PDF—and that’s when things got really interesting."
"According to the developers, World Slasher has been locked. And no, this isn’t some bug or server issue. They did it on purpose. Why? To promote their new game. They’ve literally shut down one of the most popular games just to push people toward their next project."
"But here’s the catch: not everyone will get to play it right away. Only a selected few will be given access. If those players like it, the game will roll out for everyone. If not, the project gets scrapped. Simple as that."
"Now, here’s where things get even crazier. In the PDF, they explained how players will be chosen. At the bottom of the email, there was a link—but not everyone received it. Those who did could register, but once the link was used, it couldn’t be accessed again."
"Of course, I clicked it. The page had the game’s logo, the developer’s logo, and some details about the World Slasher shutdown. After filling out my details, another page popped up—asking for payment."
"Yep. You heard that right. The game isn’t even out yet, and they’re already charging us. It’s just 500 rupees, but still… pay-to-play before launch? Kinda sketchy."
"After the payment, a confirmation page appeared with a few images of the new game—but, get this—it was fan art, not official images. And then, the final note: if players don’t like this new game, the entire project gets scrapped."
"If you ask me? This whole thing feels like a cash grab. They say the game is locked, but let’s be real—they just want to make money."
(Suddenly, Abhishek notices a flood of messages in the chat.)
"Wait, wait… why is everyone spamming ‘check your mail’? What’s going on?"
(His phone rings.)
"Hold up, Nikhil’s calling. One sec, guys."
(He answers.)
"Yeah, Nikhil? What? Are you serious? Another email? Alright, I’m checking right now."
(He quickly checks his inbox and finds a new email titled “The New Game.”)
"Guys, I know some of you got this email too, but for those who haven’t seen it yet—this changes everything."
"Oh, and before we continue, I’ve got a surprise for you all. Any guesses?"
(The chat explodes with one name: Jordi!)
"Haha! Yep, I knew you’d say that. So, let’s not waste time. Please welcome the legend himself—the God of World Slasher, the one and only… Mr. Jordan!"
(God Jordi Joins the Stream)
God Jordi:"Hey, everyone! Hope you’re all doing great. And Abhishek, thanks for having me, man."
"Now, about that long introduction you gave me—I appreciate it, but let’s be honest. My journey in gaming wasn’t easy. I struggled a lot when I started, and it took years of grinding to reach where I am today."
"But here’s the thing—I don’t want anyone to aim to become Jordan. Aim to be better than Jordan. The gaming world is constantly changing. One day, I might be at the top, and the next day, someone else could take my place. That’s just how it is. So, if you want to be great, just give it your all—no matter which game you play."
"Alright, speech over. Let’s talk about what we’re really here for—this new game."
"So, Abhishek already explained the whole registration process. But here’s something important: just because you registered does not mean you’ll be selected."
"In this new email, the developers dropped another bombshell. The game—called SoulMonz—is launching in a unique way. Before the actual release, they’ll be holding a one-day beta test. Only 500 players will be chosen as beta testers, and guess who decides who gets in? The developers themselves."
"And how do they pick? Simple—your performance in World Slasher. If you weren’t one of the top players, you’re probably out of luck."
"After the beta test, they’ll take two weeks to make changes based on feedback. Then, in the third week, the game officially launches."
"Now, let’s talk about the game itself. SoulMonz is set in a world called Soul World, where humans, beasts, and mythical creatures coexist. Every player’s journey will be unique, but the main goal? To find and crown the world’s strongest swordsman."
"And that’s where the email ends. Honestly, I don’t know what to think yet. The concept sounds cool, but is it really enough to replace World Slasher? I guess we’ll find out soon."
"Anyway, that’s all from me. Thanks again, Abhishek, for having me on the stream. And to everyone watching—thank you for the endless support. You guys are the best. See ya!"
(Back to Abhishek)
Abhishek:"Thank you, Jordi! And man, we all know if there’s anyone who can dominate SoulMonz, it’s you. We’re all hyped to see what you do in this game."
"Alright, guys, that’s it for today’s stream. Let’s see how things unfold in the coming days. Until then, take care, and I’ll catch you in the next one. Goodbye!"
(The stream fades to black.)