As we enter the golden autumn of October, "Duckov," a Chinese top-down extraction shooter developed by TeamSoda and published by bilibili Games, is approaching its first anniversary. Recently, "Duckov" released a one-year retrospective video, comprehensively reviewing the game's growth journey from its initial reveal and official launch to ongoing version updates, while expressing gratitude to global players for their feedback, suggestions, and continued support. The game will participate in the Steam Autumn Sale from October 2 to October 23, with a limited-time 30% discount across various platforms, giving both new and returning players the opportunity to experience this critically acclaimed and award-winning Chinese indie masterpiece.
Anniversary footage looks back on the journey, while community co-creation becomes part of development history
The anniversary video released by "Duckov" comprehensively traces the game's journey from its first content reveal in 2024, through its official launch, to the continuous version updates and optimizations thereafter. Updates such as Happy Halloween, Happy Winter, the Escape from Tarkov collaboration, and this summer's Summer Island Challenge have all received recognition and praise from players both domestically and internationally. To date, the game maintains an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam, with its cute exterior hiding extraction shooter gameplay that has won over players worldwide.
Notably, the anniversary video specifically mentioned the famous community meme, "Can you eat poop?" After launch, producer Jeff initiated a poll in the community to gather player opinions on whether the in-game item "poop" should be made edible. Seeing the voting results, Jeff promptly listened to the majority of players who wanted it to be edible. Soon, "poop" became consumable, while also retaining its original throwable functionality, catering to both playstyles suggested by players. This incident has become a landmark case of "Duckov" developers listening to player voices and engaging in two-way co-creation with the community, and was included in this anniversary retrospective.
At the end of the video, "Duckov" clearly stated that subsequent development work has not stopped, with the project continuing to move forward, bringing new expectations for players.
Critical acclaim and awards converge, earning global recognition for a Chinese indie title
In the anniversary retrospective video, "Duckov" also reviewed the various industry awards the game has won since its launch, underscoring the quality and strength of the title. Since its release, as a representative work of Chinese creative indie games going global, "Duckov" has garnered media coverage, numerous industry awards, and nominations both domestically and internationally. The game has successively won the Golden Box Award for Best Chinese Game of the Year, the Golden Gyro Award for Influential Game of the Year, the 2025 indiePlay Best Game Grand Prize, and the IGN China Annual Domestic Single-Player Award, among others. Additionally, the game was nominated for the Steam Awards' "Most Innovative Gameplay" category and the gamescom Most Entertaining Game Award, showcasing the creative potential of Chinese games on the international indie stage.
The extraction shooter genre has always been fiercely competitive. "Duckov" has carved out its own unique path with its distinct art style and streamlined hardcore survival-extraction gameplay. This top-down extraction shooter, developed by a small team, has successfully proven that Chinese indie games can earn dual recognition from industry judges and players alike in the global market.
Anniversary sale goes live simultaneously, unlocking a new all-time low during the Autumn Sale
Coinciding with the release of the one-year anniversary video, "Duckov" is now part of the Steam Autumn Sale, offering a limited-time discount from October 2 to October 23. During this period, the game will also be available at a 30% discount across various platforms. The discounted price in the Steam China region is ¥40.6, marking a new all-time low since the game's launch!
For new players who haven't yet experienced the game, this one-year anniversary sale is the best time to pick up "Duckov," allowing them to enjoy the complete game content, including all DLC updates, at a lower price and feel the charm of Chinese extraction shooter indie games. Veteran players can also take this anniversary opportunity to recommend the game to more friends, so everyone can experience the fun of extraction shooting in this absurd duck world together.
As everyone knows, the vitality of indie games comes from developers' persistent dedication to refinement and players' long-term support. After a full year, the "Duckov" production team looks back on their journey with an anniversary video, rewards players with limited-time offers, and remains committed to iterative development, continuing to expand the boundaries of game content. "Duckov" is steadily and sincerely forging a successful path for creative Chinese indie games.