Zaboru was on his way back to the workshop, intending to dive straight into his work again, when he suddenly ran into Gabe Newel, the ZAGE CTO in the USA. The timing was almost perfect, as if Gaben had been looking for him. Gaben smiled the moment he saw him. "Hello, boss—busy today?" he asked in a relaxed tone. Zaboru let out a small chuckle. "Heh… depends on what it is. But if it's you, Gaben, I'll make time," he replied without hesitation. There was a natural ease between them, the kind that came from long collaboration and mutual respect rather than formality.
Gaben laughed lightly, clearly relieved he had caught him at the right moment. Zaboru then gestured for him to follow. "Let's head back to my office," he said, changing course immediately. The workshop could wait—for now. Whatever Gaben wanted to discuss, Zaboru already knew it wasn't something trivial. As they walked, Zaboru's expression remained calm, but his attention was fully on Gaben. This wasn't just a casual hallway conversation anymore; it was something worth sitting down for.
Then both took their seats, and Gaben got straight to the point, his tone focused but clearly excited. "First, boss, I want to update you on the '2nd Coming' project. It's progressing really well—actually better than expected. The upgraded Unreal Engine you pushed recently is making a huge difference, especially in our integration tests. Stability is higher, pipelines are smoother, and porting older titles into the new framework is far more efficient than what we initially projected." He paused briefly, organizing his thoughts before continuing. "Because of that, our timelines have improved. We're not just keeping up—we're ahead. If things continue at this pace, we should be ready to roll out the first wave of '2nd Coming' titles by mid next year, possibly even earlier for select batches." Gaben leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp with confidence. "It's not just a re-release, boss. With the engine improvements, we're actually enhancing compatibility, performance, and feature integration across the board. Players won't just get old games—they'll get refined versions that feel modern without losing their original identity."
Zaboru leaned back and grinned, clearly pleased with what he was hearing. "That's really good to hear, Gaben," he said, his tone relaxed but satisfied. The "2nd Coming" project itself was something he had been planning for a long time—a large-scale effort to integrate older ZAGE titles into Steam and re-release them digitally. For now, the focus was on ZEPS 1 and ZEPS 2 titles, but eventually, a significant portion of ZEPS 3 games would follow as well, forming a complete digital library of ZAGE's legacy.
This decision wasn't random. Zaboru knew from his previous life that retro games often became difficult to access over time, even digitally. Many titles simply disappeared because they were never preserved or distributed properly on modern platforms. Players who genuinely loved those games were often left with no choice but to emulate them—something that existed in a gray area and didn't truly support the original creators.
Because of that, Zaboru wanted to change the approach entirely. By bringing these games officially to PC, not only would players be able to access them easily, but they could also support the developers directly. To him, this wasn't just about profit—it was about preservation, accessibility, and respect for the history of games. And with ZAGE's scale, he intended to do it properly.
That's exactly why, knowing all of this, Zaboru decided to bring ZAGE's older titles to PC—so players who truly appreciate those games can actually purchase and support them properly instead of resorting to unofficial means. At the same time, this wouldn't just be a simple re-release. Each title would receive subtle but meaningful upgrades, ensuring they feel smoother and more enjoyable on modern systems while still preserving their original identity. One of the key additions would be a unified Trophy system, allowing players to track their progression, achievements, and completion status across all titles—something that adds replay value and a sense of accomplishment even for older games.
For Zaboru, this project wasn't just about making old content available again; it was about enhancing the experience without disrespecting what made those games special in the first place. He wanted both new players and long-time fans to feel that these versions were worth their time. Because of that, pricing was also carefully considered. These were legacy titles, after all—they shouldn't be treated like brand-new releases. Instead, they would be sold at affordable prices, often bundled together, and frequently included in discounts or promotional events to make them even more accessible.
In short, the goal was simple but important: preserve the past, improve it just enough for the present, and make sure players could enjoy it easily without barriers.
Gaben then chuckled, leaning slightly forward with a knowing look. "I heard you just met with Bill Gates, boss… and let me guess—he asked you to 'give up and join him,' right?" There was a hint of amusement in his tone, but also certainty, like he had already seen this coming. Zaboru let out a small chuckle, though his expression showed a bit of surprise. "How do you know that, Gaben? I know you worked with him for a couple of years, but are you really that familiar with how he operates?" he asked, genuinely curious now. It wasn't just a random guess—that level of accuracy meant Gaben understood Bill Gates far deeper than most people would expect.
Gaben laughed, shaking his head. "Hahaha, of course not, boss. It's not that I'm close to him—I just know what kind of man Bill Gates is. He wants to own everything, and more importantly, he wants to control everything. Anyone who's worked with him long enough becomes aware of that sooner or later." He took a slow breath, choosing his words more carefully. "From the outside, the world sees him for his mind. He looks like this smart, approachable, slightly awkward nerd—someone harmless, even admirable." Gaben gave a dry chuckle. "But that's not the full picture. The people who've actually worked with him—really worked with him—know that's not who he is at his core."
He leaned back slightly, his expression turning more serious. "In reality, Bill Gates is far more terrifying as a businessman than he ever is as an engineer. As an engineer, he's brilliant, sure—but as a businessman? He's ruthless. There's a difference. If you work under him and bring an idea to the table, something genuinely good… there's a high chance he'll take it, reshape it, and present it as his own vision to the public. And the scary part?" Gaben tapped his finger lightly on the armrest. "He does it cleanly. Seamlessly. No hesitation, no guilt, no shame. It's not even like he thinks it's wrong—it's just how he operates like its not yours idea in first place. To him, it's efficiency. To others… it's something else entirely."
"That's why Microsoft's products can thrive, boss—Bill Gates is a terrifying businessman," Gaben said, looking directly at Zaboru with a more serious expression than before. He leaned slightly forward, his tone lowering as if to emphasize the importance of what he was saying. "That's also why I'm telling you this—if you ever have to work together with him, be careful. Not paranoid, not overly defensive… just careful."
He paused for a moment, choosing his words more deliberately. "I'm not saying you should avoid Microsoft entirely. That's not realistic—they're one of the biggest players in the industry, and sooner or later, you'll have to deal with them again. But when it comes to Bill Gates himself, you need to assume he's always thinking several steps ahead. Every conversation, every proposal, even casual discussions… there's always a deeper layer behind it."
Gaben exhaled quietly, then continued, his voice steady but firm. "He doesn't just compete—he studies, adapts, and reshapes the playing field to his advantage. That's what makes him dangerous. So whatever you do, boss… don't underestimate him, and don't give away more than you need to. Just keep your guard up when dealing with Bill Gates."
Zaboru leaned back and gave a slow nod, his expression calm but thoughtful. "Yes, I know, Gaben. I'll be careful around him," he said, acknowledging the warning without hesitation. He paused for a moment, then added, "But do you know what he actually said to me?"
Gaben's attention sharpened instantly.
Zaboru let out a quiet breath, a faint grin forming as he recalled the conversation. "He told me Microsoft will release a console that's far ahead of ZAGE's ZEPS 3. Not just slightly better—he made it sound like it would completely redefine the standard. According to him, we wouldn't be able to catch up in terms of hardware for at least three to four years."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, as if replaying the moment in his mind. "And then he made a proposal. He suggested that we should step out of the console race entirely—focus only on game development and stop competing in hardware. In his words, it would be the 'optimal path' for ZAGE."
Zaboru chuckled softly, his grin widening just a little. "On the surface, it sounds reasonable. Focus on strengths, reduce risk, let someone else handle the platform. But you and I both know what that really means."
His eyes sharpened slightly as he continued. "It's not just a suggestion. It's an attempt to control the direction of the industry—and position Microsoft at the center of it."
Zaboru leaned back again, completely relaxed, his confidence unwavering. "And that's exactly why I refused and the other reason you know it right?." Zaboru grinned.
Gabe looked at Zaboru with wide eyes for a brief moment, clearly surprised, before suddenly bursting into laughter. "HAHAHA… he really has no idea what he's talking about, does he?" he said, shaking his head in disbelief. There was a mix of amusement and confidence in his tone, as if the gap between perception and reality was almost comical to him. "Well, let him keep dreaming, boss. Because the moment he actually sees what ZEPS 4 is capable of… that's when reality is going to hit him hard. Not just a small surprise—a full reality check."
Gaben leaned back slightly, still smiling, but now there was a sharper edge to it. "Honestly, I almost feel bad for Bill Gates in this situation. Not because he's weak—far from it—but because there's simply no way he can even imagine what we're building. He's thinking ahead, sure… but not on this level." He let out another quiet chuckle. "ZEPS 4 isn't just an upgrade. It's something else entirely. The specs alone are already insane, but it's not just about raw power—it's how everything is integrated, how it works together. That's the part people won't see coming."
He tapped his finger lightly on the table, emphasizing his point. "And the truth is… only you and your father, Zanichi, could even think of something like this. It's not something a normal team or even a normal company could conceptualize, let alone execute."
Gaben grinned again, clearly energized by the thought, while Zaboru simply chuckled and gave a small nod, his confidence quiet but absolute.
"Yeah… he really underestimates ZAGE. And we both know we don't take that lightly, right?" Zaboru said with a faint grin, his tone calm but carrying a quiet edge. Gaben nodded immediately, letting out a short laugh. "Exactly, boss. Underestimating us is probably the biggest mistake anyone can make right now," he replied, clearly amused by the situation.
The tension from earlier slowly faded as both of them relaxed, shifting into lighter conversation. They talked briefly about ongoing projects, small internal updates, and even exchanged a few casual jokes—nothing too heavy, just enough to reset the atmosphere after such a serious discussion. It was the kind of natural back-and-forth that only came from years of working together, where words didn't need to be overexplained.
After a while, both of them returned to their responsibilities. Gaben stood up first, ready to head back and continue overseeing development, while Zaboru remained seated for a moment, already thinking ahead. There were still many things to prepare—not just for work, but also for his upcoming trip to Japan. His birthday was approaching, and while it might seem like a personal occasion, for someone like Zaboru, he want spend time with his family.
To be continue
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