In 2009, I remembered the phrase "You can't eat wild pheasants" and the line, "Close your eyes, open them, and a day has passed."
Then, with eyes opening and closing, two nine-year periods leisurely strolled by. It doesn't quite feel like a lifetime ago, because they still feel like just yesterday.
What suddenly sparked this reflection was none other than PUBG, currently holding its 9th Anniversary Celebration.
PUBG—as an absolute phenomenon-level title, even I, living in a school dormitory far from the internet at the time, could eavesdrop on snippets from day students during recess breaks. They spoke of "picking up guns," "Level 3 Helmets," "8x Scopes," and "running from the blue zone," a series of unfamiliar terms completely incomprehensible to me, who had no access to a computer at the time.
The old philosophers in our textbooks taught me: "One cannot imagine things beyond one's own cognition." So, at that time, I only knew that PUBG was a top-tier game that could only be played in internet cafes, which were considered "premium gaming hubs" (since internet cafes were also beyond my cognition at the time, as I had never been to one). My fantasies about it were all classic battle scenes from Hollywood blockbusters.
And that recess period on the playground in 2018, filled with fear of being laughed at for not understanding and hesitation to guess randomly, remains my earliest and most懵懂 (naive) memory of "chicken dinner."
Later, after leaving school, I played more games and developed pickier tastes. The Hollywood blockbusters I once regarded as my "white moonlight" ideals became less frequent viewing, replaced by an appreciation for the "love and justice" themes in magical girl anime.
So, is this place also about magical girl anime?
But what hasn't changed is that PUBG, a game that clearly lacked the shocking scenes I once imagined, has kept me engaged. Compared to the complex shooter games I followed the trend to play, which dazzled me, I still prefer playing PUBG with the friends I once eavesdropped on, teaming up, getting "chicken dinners," and "dying upon landing" together.
Because here, I can obtain the most primal and pure sense of fairness and joy. I don't have to worry too much about the gap between myself and those wealthy classmates—we all wear only our "last shred of dignity," jump from the same transport plane, rely on luck to pick up guns and gear, and flee in the same vehicle. If the car explodes, we can just queue up again together, brothers in the next life.
That said, I was still incredibly envious of the cool supercars they showed off in front of me. It was also the first time I noticed the difference in engine sounds between various cars in a game.
So, what surprised me somewhat was that during this PUBG 9th Anniversary Celebration event, the Aston Martin from three years ago made a limited-time return. Moreover, this return wasn't just a simple copy-paste revival; the developers added brand-new appearance sets based on the original.
Looking at the dazzling array of new color schemes in the workshop now, I can't help but recall the effort I put in three years ago to get that sports car skin for free. Thanks to the generous Battle Pass event back then, a poor student like me, who could only look on with envy even after starting university, finally got my first and so far only sports car skin. In the blink of an eye, the past became history, and the present inherited that legacy.
Speaking of celebrations, what is the most indispensable element? To put it directly, it's rewards. For the 9th Anniversary Celebration, the developers went big—just log in to receive the event Battle Pass "ALL DAY Party" for free. And it will last until March 25th. With a half-month duration and the implication of "ALL DAY" meaning "the whole day," it's hard not to think: "I can do this all day."
During the 9th Anniversary Celebration, players can also find "Chicken Man," a dancing and crowing rooster, on the Rondo map. After defeating him, Chicken Man will drop "Lucky Eggs," which can contain 13 different items, including the 9th Anniversary Ghillie Suit. In addition to these, 9th Anniversary pop-up shops and Lucky Wheels are scattered across the tier list, waiting for players to explore and discover hidden surprises.
Rondo map, plus the Aston Martin, instantly brought me back to 2023.
Of course, besides all the above, the gameplay continues to be optimized. The developers updated the Vikendi region in this patch, adding various tactical items to secret rooms, such as Signal Interference Backpacks, Emergency Call Devices, Foldable Shields, and Mountain Bikes. Players now have more choices during matches, and changes in resource distribution allow teams to plan routes with directions that, if not entirely new, are certainly innovative.
Arcade Mode hasn't been left out either. For Team Deathmatch, map spawn probabilities have been adjusted to make it easier for players to access their preferred and more familiar areas. In Intense Battle Mode, shotguns have been added to red supply crates, while Level 2 helmets and Level 2 vests have been added to yellow supply crates; sniper rifle scopes have also been changed from the default 6x to 8x. In UCG mode, players can view map creator information, and official additions include Zero Project items such as Blue Zone Grenade Launchers and Ice Domain Bullets.
At the same time, the developers have further intensified their crackdown on cheaters and claimed to reduce false bans. Whether it's climbing the ranked ladder or casual daily entertainment, the developers are sparing no effort in optimizing relevant details, striving to ensure every player can find their desired joy within their comfort zone, without their experience being dragged down by outdated mechanics or external factors.
Rewards and gameplay have already been discussed, so what else does a celebration need? One final touch of greenery—"Celebration."
It might sound strange—isn't celebrating during a celebration a given? Of course! But celebration is also a subtle art. It relies on atmosphere to make participants genuinely feel: "Ah, this is a festival."
For example, the 9th Anniversary Statue at the starting point is not just a decorative landmark. Players can throw Holographic Stun Grenades at it, and after a certain number of hits, it will transform directly into the appearance of the player's current character. Seeing your character, yet not your character, standing there undergoing a glamorous transformation is quite a奇妙 (wonderful) feeling.
Of course, you need to be the first in the crowd to grab the opportunity. "Snatching the embroidered ball" is also an essential part of the festival experience.
The plane is no longer just a tool for listening to other passengers "show off their singing" while waiting to parachute. This time, players can see a light show composed of drones in the sky. They form various patterns, changing in the night sky like giant fireworks for "passenger friends" to watch. What surpasses the real-world "moon-viewing flight" is that players don't need to fight for window seats—because our "eyes" are all outside the plane, giving every player equal资格 (qualification) to enjoy the view.
More thoughtful small details have been added to the map. Many buildings have received new decorations adorned with festive ornaments. This allows players, usually rushed to loot and move during chicken dinners, to occasionally stop and take a second look. Just with those two glances, the effect of bringing them closer to the festival atmosphere is achieved.
And I believe the most outstanding, highlight-worthy, and favorite design element among them is the great mascot "Chicken Man" mentioned earlier in the "Rewards" section! Its smooth dance moves and enchanting figure can truly be called the soul "figure" of the celebration.
Let's ask ourselves, who wouldn't want to wear this hilarious Chicken Man costume, which offers zero stealth but is full of taunting flair, and still manage to win the chicken dinner?
"I'm dressed so handsomely and still managed to win the chicken dinner; this is the true strength of this chicken!"
Some players might feel that these cosmetic items aren't strictly necessary, and sufficient rewards are enough. While I want to refute this, I can't help but agree. However, I must add a precondition: under conditions where rewards are as abundant and satisfying as in the current 9th Anniversary Celebration, these seemingly insignificant items are still quite important in my eyes.
These are the "sense of ritual" that celebrations shouldn't lack, and celebrations certainly need ritual—just like Spring Festival requires couplets, fireworks, and hanging lanterns in addition to feasts and red envelopes.
Nine years of companionship may not seem long when measured by human lifespan, but for a shared journey of growth through "chicken dinners," it is certainly not short. Not to mention that among these friends, one is actually the game itself—
Nine years is enough time for a game to go from being a newcomer to becoming an established veteran.
Players have long become adept at knowing every corner of the game, from the interface to all text descriptions and map resource distributions. The mundane routine of "parachuting" has diluted the festivity that should belong to a "celebration carnival" over the years. Now, in this "old married couple" dynamic, trying to recreate the grand "sense of ritual" for anniversaries with chuunibyou lines and slogans, like in first love, feels somewhat awkward and restrained.
I don't know when it started, but I rarely use those internet slang terms offline with friends anymore, which used to roll off the tongue and easily get agreement. "Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner" has become a quiet reply typed only on screens.
Later, after graduation and starting work, computers gradually shifted in my impression from "treasure chests full of games" back to their original attribute as "productivity tools." Yet, I still occasionally glance at the game in my library with the longest playtime, seemingly having figured Everythinggj out yet still retaining enough freshness, and find myself lost in thought.
To be honest, when I first heard the news about PUBG's 9th Anniversary Celebration, my heart didn't stir much. There was just a moment where a strange feeling mixed in my mind, turning into thousands of words rushing to my heart, but the only thing I could barely squeeze out was:
"Bro, it's PUBG's 9th Anniversary. Log in and get that chicken dinner!"
"Chicken Dinner," this old term I had long buried, became my simple pursuit of ritual, breaking through barriers.