"Shao Song: Return My Rivers and Mountains," a live-action interactive film produced by Interactive Star, Maoyan Entertainment, Wanwei Mao, and Sanhua Mao Film & Television, distributed by Maoyan Entertainment and Interactive Star, and adapted from the novel of the same name by Liu Dan Pa Shui on Qidian Reading (China Literature Group), was officially released globally today (August 20) on Steam. Priced at 59 CNY, it offers a 20% discount for the first two weeks, bringing the price down to 47.2 CNY. Before launch, the game's Steam wish list had already approached 90,000, with player anticipation continuing to rise.
This launch simultaneously unveils a new PV and theme song, along with a surprise cameo collaboration with Mr. Stephen Chow and an exclusive hand-signed thematic poster. These major content reveals kick off the epic saga of the Great Song's restoration.
In the game, players travel back to the chaotic Southern Song Dynasty after the Jingkang Incident, becoming Zhao Jiu, the emperor who takes command in a time of crisis. Facing a court full of officials eager for peace and the threat of Jin cavalry at the city gates, players will stand side by side with legendary generals like Yue Fei, Zong Ze, and Han Shizhong, making choices that could shape the course of history, and immersively experiencing the passionate journey of "avenging the shame of Jingkang and restoring the lands of the Great Song."
01 Launching Globally with a 20% Discount: Immerse Yourself in Shaping the Fate of the Great Song Dynasty
"Shao Song: Return My Rivers and Mountains" features over 10 hours of live-action footage, transforming the political maneuvering and patriotic choices from the original novel into a genuine interactive experience where players can participate and make decisions. With multi-branch, multi-ending content design, combined with gameplay elements such as interactive choices, tactical board game mechanics, and QTEs, every choice genuinely impacts the storyline, offering players a complete experience that balances narrative depth with gameplay.
Regarding the cast, Xu Yue plays the protagonist Zhao Jiu. Zhang Xiaochen, Zuo Xiaoqing, Zhang Qi, Zhang Xiang, and Chu Xu portray Yue Fei, Li Qingzhao, Zong Ze, Han Shizhong, and Yang Yizhong, respectively. Yu Menghan, Shi Yufei, Liang Yongni, Wang Han, Xiang Jingyi, Du Yiheng, and Li Shengjia play Yang Yizhen, Liang Hongyu, Wu Yu, Fan Xiuniang, Consort Pan, Zhao Mingcheng, Lin Jingmo, and other roles, vividly bringing the ensemble of characters in these turbulent times to life.
02 Launch PV and Theme Song Officially Unveiled; Stephen Chow Surprise Cameo Appears
Alongside the release announcement, the launch PV and a special cameo collaboration with Mr. Stephen Chow were unveiled. The PV continues the core theme of "avenging the Jingkang Incident," opening with the scene of "Yue Fei's blood staining Fengbo Pavilion" to set the tone, instantly igniting the eternal regret of "Heaven sees all." As the time-traveler Zhao Jiu enters the story, his declarations—"My mind is made up; we must march north to resist the Jin" and "The Song may fall, but the world must not"—resound with power. Iconic moments such as Yang Yizhong kneeling to beg for a wise ruler, Zong Ze forcing the emperor to take an oath, and Zhang Jun spending his entire fortune are presented one after another, pushing player emotions to a climax.
Meanwhile, the theme song "Man Jiang Hong," performed by AI singer Da Tou Zhen, officially debuted in the PV and was released simultaneously on QQ Music, Kugou Music, and Kuwo Music on August 20. The stirring melody and passionate lyrics build layer upon layer, elevating the sentiment of patriotism to its peak, unfolding a grand scroll of the Great Song Dynasty rising from fragmentation to revitalization. Another OST track, "Lei Jiang Yue," performed by singer Zhao Xuefei, was also released on NetEase Cloud Music. The lyrics were written by Wen Tianxiang when he was captured and taken north, bidding farewell to his friends; though somber and desolate, every line embodies an unyielding fighting spirit, echoing the patriotic themes conveyed in "Shao Song: Return My Rivers and Mountains."
Notably, Mr. Stephen Chow made a surprise appearance in the materials announced for this launch, with a collaborative hand-drawn poster also released to cheer on the game's debut. Mr. Stephen Chow's support has brought cross-community attention to the work and has become one of the most anticipated topics of this launch.
03 Impressive Wish List Numbers; Thousands Join the Journey to Restore Our Rivers and Mountains
Since the pre-order channel opened, the wish list numbers for the work on Steam have continued to grow, nearing 90,000 just before launch, directly reflecting players' anticipation for the title.
Players' high expectations for this work also stem from the solid backing of its behind-the-scenes team. The project is produced by five industry veterans: Zheng Zhihao, Chen Min, Wang Yuren, Li Mingyuan, and Jia Yun. It is directed by Dihuang Jin, director of "The Invisible Guardian," with the original author, Liu Dan Pa Shui, serving as chief planner to ensure the authenticity of historical details and the core story.
As a phenomenal historical IP across the internet, the original novel "Shao Song" consistently ranks No. 1 on both the bestseller and most-collected lists for historical genres on Qidian Reading, and is the first historical novel to break 100,000 average subscriptions. The manga adaptation has achieved a high score of 9.8 on Tencent Animation, and related topics on Douyin have garnered over 2.1 billion views, demonstrating its widespread influence among readers.
The live-action interactive film "Shao Song: Return My Rivers and Mountains" was officially released today (August 20) on Steam, launching globally. Players can visit the game store page to purchase and experience it, or follow official social media accounts to get the latest updates first and join thousands of fellow enthusiasts on the patriotic journey to avenge shame and rectify regrets.