5 Million Sets Set a Global Sales Record: The Comeback of an Underrated Category

Just now, *Prosperous World* officially announced that total online sales of the entire series have reached 5 million copies.

How remarkable is selling 5 million copies? In the live-action interactive video category, this means it has truly broken through the category’s sales ceiling. And this achievement was accomplished in less than a month after the release of the “Empress” chapter of *Prosperous World*.

This isn't easy, especially in an industry that was once overlooked by the market.

01

An Unexpected Hit

As I’ve mentioned before, I was moved the very first time I played *Shengshi Tianxia*. What was I thinking at the time? I clearly remember how I felt then—it was envy.

As a media outlet covering the gaming industry, a well-established reporting convention is to avoid viewing issues solely from the players’ perspective and instead consider them more from a market standpoint. In business reporting, it is often necessary to set aside personal emotions and let revenue figures and data speak for themselves. As a result, many individuals’ genuine feelings are often overlooked.

During that time, I was lost in the framework of work performance and business reporting, churning out one article after another, repeatedly writing about how much investment a certain game had secured and how it had achieved high returns at low cost, without taking the time to think more deeply about it.

It was under these circumstances that I came across *A Prosperous World*. It is filled with many genuine expressions—naive ideals and sincere emotions—that are truly captivating. While such things may seem simple, they are not easy to achieve in a market-driven environment.

I have no way of knowing exactly what kind of pressure New One Studio faced while developing *Prosperous Realm*. But there is one thing that might indirectly shed light on the circumstances surrounding the project in its early stages.

On the second day of my trial play of *Prosperous Realm*, I went to meet with an investor. The first teaser trailer had just been released, and since he was somewhat familiar with the interactive film and television sector, our conversation naturally turned to *Prosperous Realm*. He told me with absolute certainty, “I don’t have high hopes for this project.”

He carefully analyzed the interactive film and television market, the theme of *A Golden Age*, and its target audience. Speaking of New One Studio’s previous work, *The Invisible Guardian*, he said its success stemmed from striking a chord with national sentiment and a sense of patriotism, whereas *A Golden Age* might lack that same depth of resonance.

At that time, very few people could have foreseen the impact that *A Golden Age* would have later on.

When the show’s lead actress, Huang Yi, was first approached about the project, she wavered between this role and supporting roles in other major productions. She even asked friends in the industry, “If it were up to you, which one would you choose?” Many of them answered that they would go with the safer option of a traditional TV series or film.

In 2023, production on *A Golden Age* officially began. Even with the experience gained from the previous project, filming was still no easy task. The first challenge the production team faced was that very few people had experience producing interactive films and TV series. From the photo shoot for *The Invisible Guardian* to the actual filming of *A Golden Age*, most of the production experience they had accumulated in the past proved largely inapplicable.

Looking at it now, *The Golden Age* has actually brought this genre a much larger audience than ever before. Fans of period dramas and those who enjoy historical themes have all joined the discussion.

I even discovered during a casual conversation that a friend I never would have expected had played *Prosperous Realm*. She said it was because a friend of hers had died twice in the very first episode and dragged her into playing along; worried she might just go through the motions, the friend even transferred the purchase price directly to her.“I figured, since I’d already received the money, I might as well give it a try—and it turned out to be surprisingly good,” she told me. This was her first time experiencing a live-action interactive drama, and even though she’d watched plenty of period dramas, the choice of storylines still gave her a sense of novelty.

The multi-path nature of interactive cinema has naturally fueled the buzz surrounding *A Prosperous World*. Even if you’ve already played through it once, you’ll still discover new storylines in the community that you haven’t unlocked yet. Some people have set up Tencent Meeting sessions specifically to play together with friends; many others, after finishing the game, decide to buy another copy as a gift for their parents.

Each person’s unique interpretation has also sparked new discussions around *The Golden Age*. Some have stepped forward to explain the allusions in the show, bringing the characters and scenes to life; others have reinterpreted each choice through their own experiences, turning them into hot topics of discussion within the community.

"Prosperous World" Seoul Fan Meet-and-Greet

Li Xueqin and Liu Xiaoqing’s live-streamed episodes of *A Prosperous Realm* were equally well-received. Li Xueqin turned the imperial court into a workplace game, with every choice she made firmly focused on advancing her career—a perspective that perfectly resonated with modern professionals. Liu Xiaoqing’s every decision, meanwhile, revealed a world-weary wisdom:She is open and direct about her feelings, yet she understands that “the emperor’s heart is the most unpredictable and fickle.” She seizes every opportunity to rise to the top, yet she also shows the greatest tenderness toward the antagonist, Liu Xi—shattering her beliefs but sparing her life, hoping only that this young woman would let go of her hatred and start anew.

Different people “live” in *The Golden Age*, each seeing a different philosophy of life.

02

Precious Purity

What moved me wasn’t that the production team spared no expense and pursued quality at all costs. On the contrary, I feel that they performed a moving dance amid the dilemma between market demands and quality.

As a pioneer in China’s interactive film and television industry, New One Studio has faced heightened expectations. From the moment the project was greenlit, many eyes have been on the investment and returns of *A Golden Age*. If it fails to recoup its costs, no one will be willing to continue investing, and it will be difficult for this genre to thrive.

“We have to spend the money on things that are visible,” said Demi, the executive producer of *Prosperous World*. While sets can be built nearby to avoid repeated scene changes, the black-and-gold crown robe worn by the Empress during her coronation absolutely had to be crafted with great care over the course of several dozen days—the hand-embroidery on the black crown robe and cape alone took twenty days to complete.

You can see a lot of sincerity in this production team.

When the "Meiniang" episode premiered, someone asked director Zhizhu about her future career plans. She replied, “There are many things I want to do, but my energy is limited, so for now, I can only focus on doing one thing well.”

Many people online say that director Zhizhu is very skilled at filming beautiful women. In fact, it’s not just her skill—she puts a great deal of care into every person and every step of the process. Her vlogs document the makeup sessions for each actor, and she carefully selects every detail of their look to ensure that the actors truly blend with their characters.

"Prosperous World" Wuhan Meet-and-Greet

“I was pleasantly surprised that the project chose me,” said lead actress Huang Yi. However, she noted that choosing to venture into the unfamiliar territory of interactive film and television—as opposed to traditional film and television—truly requires courage. Even though she had her doubts, she ultimately decided to take on the role because, as she put it, “I believe in this team and love this script.”

Before filming began, she read through all the relevant books and watched all the related TV series, and she knew the script by heart.Cast members recall that during filming, Huang Yi would always seize every spare moment to memorize her lines. She carried the bulk of the show’s scenes, had a heavy dialogue load, and had to switch frequently between different emotional states, yet she remained fully present on set every day and never made a single professional mistake.

This down-to-earth, unpretentious approach to work seems to be reflected in many members of the production team. Gong Zhengye, who plays Li Yifu, had no idea the show would generate such a huge buzz for him before the promotional posters were released.As notification sounds kept coming in and enthusiastic fans urged him to share more behind-the-scenes moments, he realized he had gone to the set alone and hadn’t captured any footage. It was precisely this kind of sincerity that allowed him to immerse himself in the role and empathize with the character, resulting in the iconic scene where he stands up after the court session, holding his tablet and arguing his case with conviction.

03

A Moving Storyline

Purity gives rise to excellent content and compelling storylines.

I have praised the ensemble character development in *A Golden Age* countless times. It tells the story of a carefree, innocent princess caught in the machinations of imperial power; of two childhood friends who turn against each other amid hatred; and even of a poor dog mourning its owner.It is a game of survival, yet it also explores the complexities of human nature entangled in a web of conflicting interests.

I told my colleague that in *A Prosperous World*, whenever anyone asked me if I loved him, I always said I did. She teased me, saying I was a romantic.

Actually, I just think that *A Golden Age* portrays the relationship between love and the self so profoundly that even the most jaded modern people would be moved by it.

In the “Return to the Palace” storyline, the emperor and empress—who once joined forces to oppose the powerful clans—ultimately became adversaries on opposing sides. “Between the emperor and the empress, a sharp blade is hidden within the threads of their affection.” These words, spoken earlier by Empress Wang, became a kind of prophecy regarding their relationship in the later stages of the story.

Rumors of deposing the empress began to circulate in the imperial court. After reviewing the ministers’ memorials, Lizhi took our hand and said, “They are all impeaching Zha’er. It is my fault that you have had to endure so many groundless accusations.Yet I actually…” At that moment, a voice-over conveyed our inner thoughts: “Many years later, I finally realized that Lizhi didn’t trust me back then—he was simply concerned for me. At first glance, there seemed to be no difference between the two, but the underlying emotions were worlds apart.”

His feelings are genuine, and so is his weighing of the pros and cons. Li Zhi wanted to preserve the bond between husband and wife, protect the kingdom, and resolve the conflicts between us and our children. Illness had already worn him down, which is why he kept trying to persuade us to retire from public life together.

Emotionally speaking, this could be considered a perfect ending. But the plot has repeatedly affirmed our ambition and talent. To walk away now would not be a good ending. And so, our emotions became the bargaining chip that kept us there.We presented the memorial calling for his impeachment, making him feel the pangs of guilt; we removed our hairpins as a strategic retreat to advance, filling him with remorse; and as we embraced the emperor, we gazed toward the dragon throne in the distance, gradually realizing: only by becoming the one who sets the rules can one avoid being buried by them.

Before Li Zhi passed away, he asked us if we had ever loved him. Without hesitation, I replied, “Your Majesty has always been in my heart”—it wasn’t that I didn’t love him, nor was it that I had once loved him.I have always loved him, yet I cannot betray my own ambitions or halt my progress simply because of my love for him. Just as he, too, loves us, he cannot simply hand over the empire out of love. Though our stances differ, our love has not vanished; love and self-interest are intertwined, yet they do not conflict.

*A Prosperous World* chronicles our ambitions and attempts to explore how to navigate the relationship between the self and love.At a time when romantic myths are shattering and “love-struck” behavior is under fire, the series offers a rare portrayal of a story where career and romance pull in opposite directions. This tension isn’t born of a lack of love, but rather from the fact that, beyond love, each character has their own aspirations they wish to fulfill.

A storyline like this first touches the actors, and through their brilliant performances, it goes on to move us as the audience.

In *The Golden Age*, before ascending to the throne as Empress, we must journey through three realms of dreams. The first is a reunion with our youthful lover while we ourselves are young. This is Huang Yi’s favorite part of the story.As we rest in the arms of the young Li Zhi, our weariness is soothed. He asks if we want to stay and rest. If we choose to stay, we die of natural causes in the real world; if we choose to leave, we can return to reality and become the Empress.

The script didn’t call for tears, but Huang Yi still cried during her performance.She later explained this scene: “There are always moments in life when someone tells you, ‘You’ve come this far—why not stop and rest for a while?’ That voice comes from the workplace, from family, and even from a lover. There’s nothing wrong with choosing to rest, but if you choose not to, it means saying goodbye to those warm moments—and that farewell is actually very painful.”

She said, “I remember deciding at the time to tell His Majesty that I had more important things to do. I had walked quite a distance when His Majesty called out to me and said, ‘The morning dew comes swiftly; do not waste this life.’ I really love those eight words, because at that moment, His Majesty didn’t dismiss me or stand in my way; instead, he said to me very warmly, ‘You must do your best and not let your life go to waste.’”

04

Self-Dialogue

“A week after finishing *Prosperous Realm*, I can still feel a certain ‘unshakable’ power lingering within me,” wrote one netizen.

"The Golden Age" leaves a lasting impression. Though the story ends on the computer screen, the emotions linger on.

On June 18, *A Golden Age* held a meet-and-greet with the creative team in Nanchang. At the event, the lingering emotions took on a tangible form. *A Golden Age* may never have been just one person’s story. As we immersed ourselves in it, we, too, became part of the story.

Following the Nanchang meet-and-greet, the *Shengshi Tianxia* meet-and-greets in Seoul and Wuhan also sparked widespread discussion.

I came across a long letter written to *Shengshi Tianxia* by a male viewer. He is a person with a disability; he underwent surgery at age four, realized at age six that he was different from other children, and at age twelve suffered a fracture followed by a long recovery. Before the surgery, he had thought, “How wonderful it would be if I died on the operating table.”

He didn’t have any hobbies; he couldn’t play basketball or video games, and his only pastime was binge-watching TV shows.When he opened *A Prosperous World*, he was immediately captivated by the first chapter—it was the first time he realized he could actually shape the plot himself. He saw himself in Wu Yuanzhao’s journey of growth through adversity; he came to understand obsession through Liu Xi’s lifelong fixation; and he felt a sense of regret at Gao Yang’s loss of innocence.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

In his letter, he wrote: “To me, it has long been more than just an ordinary interactive film—it is a gentle refuge where I can empathize with my vulnerabilities, heal my emotions, and come to terms with my regrets.”

The "Prosperous World" Nanchang Meet-and-Greet Comes to a Close, with the IDs of Every Attendee Scrolling Across the Screen

For the actresses who starred in *The Golden Age*, the show has also become a part of their lives.When asked how long it took her to step out of the role of Wu Yuanzhao, Huang Yi replied, “I don’t think I’ve stepped out of it—she’s become a part of me. Maybe I was never really her, but after playing her, the impact she’s had on me will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

As a member of the media who has been following this interactive film for a long time, my close ties to the production and marketing teams may make it difficult for me to maintain the perspective of a pure audience member.I’ve played *Prosperous Realm* many times, and when it intersects with my work, I find it hard to be truly moved by it. But the moment I sat in the audience at the meet-and-greet, I was still completely immersed and drawn into the experience, my emotions blending seamlessly with those of the other attendees.

I tried to trace the source of that feeling. Aside from being swept up by the atmosphere of the moment, perhaps what mattered even more was that I’d known this work for a full year—I’d poured my heart into it and immersed myself in it. From the ensemble narrative at the beginning to the personal growth at the end, it felt like a rare life experience beyond the ordinary.I cherish everyone I’ve met here—whether their intentions were kind or unkind, they’re all unforgettable. The emotions that had built up over the course of a year were finally released at the meet-and-greet.

On the flight back from Nanchang, as I gazed at the layers upon layers of clouds high in the sky, I was reminded of the three dreams in *The Golden Age* that took place before ascending to the throne. In those dreams, we converse with departed lovers, friends, enemies, and our inner selves, finding the answers within our hearts through these successive layers of dreams.

At that moment, I decided to have an honest conversation with myself.I began to confront my own emotional nature and sensitivity, trying to break free from my previous writing patterns, and wrote *A Prosperous World* from a personal perspective, chronicling my experiences along the way. In that moment of writing, just as Wu Yuanzhao saw his past self in the darkness, I, too, seemed to rediscover my original passion for writing.

I suppose I still find it hard to say that *The Golden Age* is a perfect work, or that, from a commercial standpoint, it has achieved anything particularly remarkable compared to profitable mobile games. But I’ve never hesitated to heap praise on it, because such a pure and gripping work is becoming increasingly rare.