Is NetEase turning the youth's first taste of "cyber alcohol" into a "legal private server"?

Twenty years ago, in a smoke-filled internet cafe, the login screen of "Legend" could instantly electrify all the young people in the room. This game, dubbed the "youth's first sip of cyber alcohol," captivated countless players with its raw PK gear drops and straightforward combat power battles, keeping them up all night under the glow of the "Dragon Slayer" sword.

How crazy was the craze? Internet cafe seats were fought over, instant noodle buckets piled high, and even passing aunts knew "killing players could drop great gear." Riding this wave of popularity, Shanda surged forward, successfully going public and becoming a collective memory for a generation of gamers.

Twenty years later, while veteran players still reminisce about the pure thrill of "licking blood off the blade," NetEase suddenly pulled a bizarre move: turning the once addictive "cyber alcohol" into an officially certified "legal private server"?

That's right, the game "Justice," which has been running for seven years and is known as the "breathing Jianghu," is launching a server that "won't last more than ten days"—the Ten-Day Server. When the news broke, the entire internet was filled with puzzled questions.

"Justice's" so-called Ten-Day Server, as the name suggests, opens on January 9th and closes promptly on January 18th—exactly ten days. After closure, all data is wiped clean, promoting a "come hot, leave clean" experience. Yet, players immediately saw through it: this is clearly an official upgrade of the old "Legend" private servers.

The Ten-Day Server's design centers on "one-hit 999 damage" and the motto "brothers, come settle debts with me." Skills are simplified to just six, combined with one-click combos and auto-battle, so even newcomers who have never played online games can get the hang of it within five minutes,

And of course, the classic Legend-style PK gear drops are back. In the Ten-Day Server, all equipment drops from monsters; you can fight anytime in the wild or dungeons. Winners not only claim resources but can also loot opponents' gear—delivering the thrill of "one hit for a rare item."

This round of Ten-Day Server perks is arguably the best chance to "cash in on NetEase's generosity."

First, there's zero entry barrier—no need to spend a penny on game time cards, just download a 30GB minimalist installer and jump right in; second, full recharge refunds, where historical top-ups convert to reputation that boosts first-day drop rates by up to 200%; plus rare skins and recharge titles are given away for free.

Most enviable is the official drop of 3 million yuan in cash red envelopes, randomly appearing in-game, instantly withdrawable. Lucky players might pick up thousands in a single day—this is truly a "play games and earn money" dream scenario.

After the Ten-Day Server announcement, reactions varied widely. Some streamers said they'd rush in to enjoy the thrill of one-click operations for spenders; many grinding players already started calculating profits: all equipment is unbound and tradable, so rare drops can be sold to wealthy players, plus the cash red envelopes, potentially making quick money in just ten days.

In fact, thinking carefully, Justice launching a Ten-Day Server is no whim but a precise hit on current player pain points. Many modern MMOs either have development lines longer than the Great Wall or suffer from severe stat inflation, where new players fall behind immediately and veterans are worn out by daily chores. The Ten-Day Server perfectly addresses these issues.

More importantly, Justice revives MMO social ecosystems with this "official private server" model. In the Ten-Day Server without fixed strategies or social circles, no one knows each other, so there's no social pressure—if you lose, call for help; if you win, show off. This interaction full of "grudges and friendships" is exactly the soul many MMOs lack.

From the "cyber alcohol" of Legend to today's "legal private server" of Justice, what players have always sought is not complex settings, but the most direct joy and purest social interaction. Justice's Ten-Day Server may seem like a bold move, but whether it will succeed remains to be seen after its official launch.