With dual updates and double the excitement, this timeless shooter has once again won over its peers.

The shooting game market in 2025 is truly bustling. A wave of new titles has suddenly burst onto the scene, vying for dominance in emerging segments such as PvP, PvE, and large-scale battlefields. Interestingly, while the “complete shake-up of the market” that many predicted remains a future prospect, the top-tier titles have demonstrated their enduring strength.

Take *Peace Elite*, a game I’ve been following closely lately, as an example. Since the release of the CG33 “Creative Battle” update on September 9, this “evergreen shooter” has once again caused a sensation among players.According to estimates by DianDian Data, on September 9 and following the September 20 “Desert Island Showdown” update for the subway escape mode, iOS downloads reached daily peaks of over 700,000, propelling *Peace Elite* back into the Top 2 spot on the iOS Top Grossing Chart. Across major social media platforms, *Peace Elite* dominated trending searches, once again breaking through to a wider audience.

This time, Chinese entertainment star Li Yunrui served as the "Version Ambassador." He transformed into a "PUBG prodigy" to reenact iconic gunfights from the "Creation Paradise 2.0" island map, and then became a "treasure-hunting prodigy," teaming up with *Peace Elite* to co-produce a "desert island treasure-hunting blockbuster," leaving players in awe of his coolness;The related hashtag #PeaceEliteCreativeBattle has garnered nearly 3 billion views across Douyin and Kuaishou, topped Douyin’s trending list, and once again captured the collective attention of young people.

One thing is clear: this surge in popularity is backed by genuine merit. After all, the "Creation Battle" update is brimming with highlights—it has sparked intense player discussion by delivering a double win in both the "quality" and "quantity" of its in-game content.On one hand, the island-themed "Creation Park 2.0" mode has made a strong comeback in response to player demand, while the "Super Body" gameplay has been fully upgraded to the "Super Body 3.0" era alongside class reworks, introducing the "Rongdu" map, the new vehicle "Peace Guardian," and a host of new protocols. On the other hand, the "Subway Escape" mode recently launched its all-new Chapter 8 season, "Deserted Island Turmoil."

In the same update, both BR and Metro Escape received major updates and are advancing side by side. This inevitably brings to mind the concept of a “multi-genre shooting platform game” that *Peace Elite* has championed in recent years—and clearly, *Peace Elite* has now developed a more in-depth strategy for how to build a robust platform that allows various shooting modes to coexist and thrive, thereby driving the game’s long-term success.

01

“Creation”: A Journey Back Three Years in Search of Happiness

Over the years of observing *Peacekeeper Elite*, my understanding of game platformization has continued to evolve. I used to believe that the biggest bottleneck in platformization was production capacity, but in recent years I’ve gradually come to realize that the real challenge lies in maintaining “internal consistency” after a massive influx of new content—that is, building a system where all gameplay modes can coexist harmoniously and continue to evolve.

At present, *Peace Elite* may have found a fairly clear answer. In last month’s “Thrill Night” interview, Yang Yiqing, the game’s Creative Director, mentioned that the team is creating new content with the goal of “aligning with the players themselves.” In other words, by tailoring content to the vast user base of *Peace Elite*, it is easier to identify innovative directions that naturally emerge from player needs and successfully implement them.

Players who raised their cameras for "Peace Elite" during the 2025 Night of Excitement

With its tens of millions of daily active users, *Peace Elite* inevitably faces a wide variety of player needs. As a result, the game has intentionally adopted a differentiated approach to its gameplay lines, ensuring that the seasonal and regular content complement each other and cater precisely to different types of players.

This is clearly evident in the “dual-track” comparison this time around. Take, for example, the Battle Royale content in the new island map “Creation Park 2.0”—it taps into the deepest-rooted “spirit of peace” and builds upon the core gameplay that has remained the most iconic since the game’s launch.For many players, their first impression upon entering the "Creation Park 2.0" version was: "This instantly 'creates' me back to 2022"—parachuting down, landing, and seeing the familiar sci-fi-style main city come into view. Memories that had been buried deep with the end of that version—such as "Bobo Car Collisions" and "Duo Check-ins at Space Rose"—suddenly flooded back in an instant.

Three years ago, the "Creative Paradise" update lasted for six months. On the eve of its conclusion, many players made a special trip to various locations on the map to take photos as mementos.Since then, Peace players have occasionally posted to reminisce about those days—so “Creation Park 2.0” primarily addresses this unmet nostalgia among veteran Peace players. It extracts scene assets from the highly popular “Creation Park” version of three years ago, comprehensively recreating everything from themed districts to signature items like “Bobo Cars” and “Catapults.”Veteran players, familiar with the map, can quickly get the hang of it after just two or three rounds; for new players, in addition to the nostalgic recreation, a series of new features launched simultaneously help them find enjoyment right away.

For example, the combat dynamics in the main city—the primary battleground—have been optimized to reduce the suppression from surrounding high ground and provide more options for retreating from the city center. Combined with the newly introduced "Photon Chicken" ally, which can help you heal and recover quickly during combat, this changes the combat logic by reducing survival pressure, effectively increasing the intensity of head-to-head gunfights.

In addition, the item mechanics have been upgraded in the 2.0 version of Creative Park (such as adding a bounce function to the Bounce Car). Building on signature items like the Catapult and Photon Chicken, four brand-new sub-zones—including the “Bounce Car Arena”—have been introduced, each featuring unique gameplay mechanics. New items, such as the “Resource Remodeling Gun,” have also been added. Compared to previous versions, the drop rates for these signature items have been increased, allowing more players to experience the appeal of the version’s unique gameplay.

In a nutshell: By building on the fast-paced gunplay of the classic BR mode and exploring new avenues for the game’s signature item-based mechanics, the developers have distilled an even more intense sense of gameplay excitement, creating an innovative yet classic battle royale experience in the 2.0 version of “Creation Park.” From this perspective, this evolution of the core experience—rooted in both tradition and innovation—makes “Creation Park” feel less like a standalone version and more like a cohesive, ongoing IP.

This is not the first time *Peace Elite* has adopted this "version-to-IP" approach. Previous updates such as "Return of the Thrill" and "Desert 3.0" can be viewed as similar examples. The core strategy leverages the game’s extensive experience with Battle Royale gameplay accumulated over the years to satisfy players’ desire to revisit classic modes while adapting popular game content assets to evolve with the times. The current "Creator’s Paradise 2.0" update once again demonstrates the potential inherent in this "version-to-IP" approach.

02

When Search, Report, and Remove Becomes More Down-to-Earth

In contrast to BR’s “inward exploration,” the “Subway Escape” mode in the search-and-escape genre redefines what it means to be “trendy” and “exploratory.” Launched last June, Subway Escape has already reached a massive scale this year, with daily active users peaking at over 37 million. Given this staggering growth rate, Subway Escape remains in a phase where it must continually push the boundaries of gameplay and user experience.

As a result, *Peacekeeper Elite* has adopted a different approach to updating the subway escape mode: on one hand, it listens to player feedback to precisely address any shortcomings in the gameplay; on the other hand, it engages in extensive trial-and-error experimentation to quickly identify the right direction for the mode’s future development.

It’s clear that their primary focus right now is on breaking away from the old perception that the “Search, Attack, and Retreat” gameplay is “hardcore,” and unlocking its potential for mass appeal. The specific steps to achieve this are also quite clear: increasing rewards, refining the sense of satisfaction, and lowering the entry barrier.

For example, the recently updated “Suran Conflict” mode features higher equipment drop rates, and the new “Suran Diamond Chest” allows players to obtain rare Suran Diamonds for a guaranteed high return on investment. The “Assault Readiness System” works similarly: by spending Assault Vouchers, players can obtain readiness items of random value. While this system places greater emphasis on the ability to adapt on the fly based on equipment setups, it allows players to enter the game at no cost, offering even more substantial potential rewards.

During the "Deserted Island Upheaval" season, a high-difficulty, season-exclusive special event—the "Misty Deserted Island Submarine Incident"—will also be available at designated locations on the "Advanced: Misty Deserted Island" map. If you defeat the new boss, Colonel "Black Eagle" Lei Jing, you can loot high-value supplies.Additionally, the new "Experimental Base" map in the limited-time Gold Rush mode introduces a role-playing gameplay experience where players switch roles to personally take on the role of the Big Boss… This expands gameplay and looting options, delivering the "thrill" of search, fight, and escape from multiple angles.

Even a durian can become a source of fun—the recently updated "Golden Durian" from New Da Jin has become one of the hottest memes in *Peace Elite*'s "Subway Escape" mode. Durian picked up in the game can yield three different levels of flesh content, each with varying values. The one with the most flesh and the highest value is jokingly referred to as the "Gratitude Durian."Peace Elite’s intention is clear—by tapping into the real-world trend of “opening durian blind boxes,” the developers are proactively creating memes to spark organic player discussions. Building on the “low barrier to entry” and “high thrill” that the Metro Escape mode has consistently maintained, this approach ensures that players new to the search-and-escape gameplay can better enjoy the experience once they join the game driven by these trending memes.

Suddenly, social media platforms were flooded with posts about “the joys and sorrows of a single durian.” Those who snagged a “Revenge Durian” were bragging about their million-yuan windfall, while others were occasionally wailing about having received a “Revenge Durian.”

The creation of this in-game item serves as a perfect reflection of the current state of *Peace Elite*’s Metro Escape mode—in terms of gameplay design, it innovatively introduces elements of random rewards into the search-and-fight-and-escape genre, making it quite “thrilling.” At the same time, it sparks discussion on social media, creating a combined strategy of “gameplay plus ecosystem.”

Based on these two points, "Search, Strike, Retreat, and Loot"—a gameplay style currently mired in intense competition yet in desperate need of innovation—has been given a unique twist by Metro Escape that reflects its own distinct style.While similar games tend to emphasize realism, Peace Elite’s Subway Escape focuses on “trends” and “community culture.” This includes the famous line that went viral among players—“Once you get hooked on Surinam, you’re done for”—as well as the iconic “Rat Culture,” which has set Peace Elite’s Subway Escape on a path that, while distinct from other “search-fight-retreat” games on the market, is equally successful.

Yang Yiqing previously explained that after noticing the "Subway Escape" mode was performing better than expected, the team acted swiftly to assign additional operations staff to it and treat it as a standalone game within *Peacekeeper Elite*. This demonstrates *Peacekeeper Elite*’s keen instincts and ability to pivot strategically.

The rapidly growing "Metro Escape" mode has quickly integrated with the existing classic Battle Royale gameplay, allowing *Peace Elite* to maintain its core user base while continuously offering players a fresh experience. By securing a firm footing before taking the next step, the game ensures that its platform-based gameplay system can continually benefit from sustainable and stable innovation.

I believe this remarkable depth of gameplay and operational expertise is one of the key reasons why *Peace Elite* has remained so enduringly popular.

03

The "Evergreen Success" of Shooting Platform Games

Starting from the "ground up" with Battle Royale gameplay, *Peacekeeper Elite* has now established distinct operational strategies and update schedules for its diverse range of game modes, all ultimately aimed at building a platform-style shooter.As it stands, *Peace Elite* may be closer to the “ultimate form” of a shooter platform than any other game currently on the market. During Tencent’s earnings call this past August, Ma Huateng personally singled out *Peace Elite*, noting that it is “gradually evolving into a platform game.”

"Peacekeeper Elite" has shattered our preconceptions about the longevity of first-person shooters, turning time into an ally. Through effective innovations accumulated over more than six years, it has successfully integrated distinctly different gameplay systems and their respective audiences into a single, cohesive product.

It has transcended the boundaries of a mere game, building its own ecosystem through the active creation and dissemination of memes both within and outside the game, a network of influencers, and cross-industry endorsements by celebrities, thereby securing a dominant voice in Gen Z culture.

We have also consistently seen *Peace Elite* extend its events into the offline world through major campaigns, reaching even more players. For instance, the annual "Four-Player Squad Festival" has become a staple annual celebration for *Peace Elite* players.This year, *Peace Elite* launched the “Four-Player Squad Festival” with “the greatest ever” rewards package worth over 2,000 yuan, encouraging players to find their own regular squadmates in real life. Years of consistent, substantial incentives and patient cultivation have ultimately allowed *Peace Elite* to develop its own unique social ecosystem for team play.

Given these overwhelming results, there is likely no longer any doubt. In the fiercely competitive world of first-person shooter games, the enduring value of long-standing titles has become increasingly evident. This September, *Peacekeeper Elite* remains the top choice among young people nationwide for mobile first-person shooters.