Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 1027: Promotion Begins

The exhibition area below had now been transformed into a full-blown cyberpunk-themed venue. After all, this year's main promotion centered around this game, making it one of Takayuki's more indulgent decisions.

Under normal circumstances—if the goal was to maximize both profit and exposure—Cyberpunk 2077 could reasonably take center stage, but only for around 50% of the event. The remaining time would typically be split among other games.

But this time, Takayuki specifically insisted that while other game trailers could be shown in the earlier segments, the latter half of the presentation would be entirely devoted to Cyberpunk 2077.

If Gamestar Entertainment were a large publicly traded company controlled by a bunch of shareholders, Takayuki would have been torn apart for this.

However, given the scale of Cyberpunk 2077, it absolutely deserved this spotlight. This was, after all, the company's largest investment and longest-running development project.

As the presentation time neared, more and more players began to gather at Gamestar Entertainment's booth.

Meanwhile, companies like Surei Electronics maintained a collective silence, exuding the tension of duelists waiting to draw their swords.

"Ten minutes to go."

"President Takayuki, are you sure you want to host the presentation yourself?"

The broadcast director came over once more to confirm.

At that moment, Takayuki was dressed in a large, loose-fitting leather coat with several protruding elements—clearly a replica of V's standard outfit, the protagonist from Cyberpunk 2077 and the character shown on the game's cover.

This time, Takayuki would be hosting the show in character.

"I'm sure. But I'll only be hosting the Cyberpunk 2077 segment. The rest of the game announcements can be handled by someone else."

"What about your script?"

"I don't need one. I already know this game like the back of my hand. No one understands every detail better than I do. I don't need a script."

"I just worry something unexpected might happen."

"Don't you trust your boss?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. Alright, President Takayuki, please get ready."

The countdown began. The ground floor of Gamestar's venue was packed with eager players.

The second floor, which housed the demo area, was temporarily closed. After the presentation, it would be transformed entirely for Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay demos.

"Let's see... let's see whose cards win the crowd—Gamestar's open hand or our hidden one."

It wasn't just players watching. Rival companies were also observing closely, along with numerous skilled developers looking to glean early trends—and perhaps ride the hype wave.

54321!

Each countdown tick was accompanied by a flash of an iconic Gamestar game IP. When it hit one, flameless fireworks burst across the venue and energetic music kicked in.

A familiar host—seen frequently in recent years—stepped onto the stage, warmly welcoming the audience and recapping Gamestar's recent accomplishments.

With other companies, this kind of speech would just be fluff for shareholders. But here, it was genuine gratitude for every player's support and engagement.

After a few minutes, the presentation moved straight into game trailers.

Unlike other companies that dragged on with long speeches or endless dev diaries, Gamestar always stuck to showing the games. Players didn't care about developer monologues—they came to see what they could play.

Of course, Gamestar had the luxury of doing this thanks to a massive backlog of new titles ready to show, while other companies seemed tight-fisted by comparison.

The first trailer came from a partner studio—more of a warm-up title. It looked decent, something to check out during a sale.

A few more games followed, each with some standout features.

Eventually, a trailer from Homi, Aiko, and Oto's studio was shown.

This one was a tower defense game similar to their original hit, Farm Defense, but with added growth and management mechanics. Players had to produce resources in the back lines to support the front lines battling against monster attacks.

It was fairly hardcore—even down to different turrets requiring specific ammunition. Supplying the wrong type could cause a defensive collapse.

Hardcore players found it refreshing and worth a try. Most others were lukewarm, though the studio's fans expressed eager interest.

While the trailer played, the three women quickly pulled out promotional materials to redecorate their booth.

The game's art style was dark and gritty, evoking wartime severity. This aesthetic had become trendy again, which helped draw attention.

After another batch of 7–8 trailers, it was time for the main event.

The venue lights dimmed—so dark it was impossible to see one's hand. Then green beams cut through the blackness from the stage, and a burst of electrifying rock music exploded.

Takayuki emerged in the darkness and stepped onto the stage. When the lights came back on, the massive screen behind him lit up with the Cyberpunk 2077 logo.

"Welcome, welcome everyone, to the world of Night City!"

Around the room, the dark walls lit up to reveal the high-rise skyline of Night City. The entire hall was surrounded by screens, and only now did players realize just how extravagant—and breathtaking—it all was.

They were stunned. But even more than that, they were thrilled.