Anti-conditioning live-action interactive game Protagonist set for July 15

Developed by DingDing Sunshine and co-published by Fenglin Studio and Yixiangfeng Interactive Entertainment, the reality-oriented light suspense live-action interactive game Protagonist officially announces its release date today: the game will launch on Steam on July 15, and the store page is now live. Players can add it to their wishlist to reserve their spot in advance.

Unlike mainstream romance-focused interactive titles currently on the market, Protagonist is built around anti-conditioning, self-redemption, and real-world growth. It is less a typical entertainment product and more a documentary poem dedicated to every young person struggling between ideals and reality.

The story takes place at the renowned star-making sanctum—Jinglin Academy of Performing Arts. You will step into the role of "Lusheng," an undercover investigator who infiltrates this glamorous academy—shackled by invisible mental constraints—by posing as a profit-driven actor, all to uncover the truth behind his sister's death.

Within the academy, everyone is an actor. Everyone has their script. Smiles are carefully orchestrated beats, tears are emotional tools, and every warm gesture hides a setup. Surveillance runs silently, rigid rules bind layer by layer, and invisible psychological conditioning silently engulfs every student. Mentors, classmates, close friends, partners—those you spend each day with can turn into adversaries in an instant. The system watches, the rules condition. You must stay clear-headed amidst a sea of lies, and piece together the buried truth from every disguised line of dialogue.

Fully live-action filmed, with countless moral choices and emotional gambits woven throughout—your disguised attitude and relational stance directly reshape the story's direction. A seemingly trivial line of dialogue can trigger a butterfly effect, setting off crises down the line.

A multi-layered ensemble system of confrontation: Seven core characters—a dangerous producer, a double-faced partner, a struggling genius, a sharp-tongued heiress, an enforcer of rules, and a has-been child star—each hold opposing stances. You may choose to stand with them, or resist the psychological conditioning and hold your ground.

A branching narrative web: Multiple core endings—from "Uncovering the Truth" to "Complicity," from "Going It Alone" to "Lost in Love"—alongside a wealth of hidden side stories. Only through specific combinations of choices can you unlock the characters' buried pasts and the academy's ultimate secrets.

All the world's a stage, yet homeward lies the heart. In this labyrinth of false pretenses where everyone is playing a part, you are not bound to become a puppet of the script. Forge yourself, break free from conditioning, and write your own ending.

A note: This game contains mature themes including workplace power dynamics and nuanced interpersonal manipulation. The coveted Master Class spot is not easily won—and neither are those who pull the strings behind the curtain.

Newcomer, take your script. On July 15, this grand drama of resistance and self-discovery officially begins. Add to wishlist now, and await the curtain rise!

View on Steam