That day, I was marching on the battlefield of Erangel. The sky was dim, the sound of gunfire was fading away, and the air was filled with a kind of silence after tension. The gas station in the distance had been abandoned for many years, weeds were growing out of the cracks, and the cracks in the concrete were like the scars of this island. But unexpectedly, the gas station was relit, and a bright red sign was particularly dazzling-KFC.
This seemed to be an accidental implantation in the game, but it was not an accident. The red and white sign stood there quietly, with a hint of absurd temperature. There was a self-service ordering machine in the gas station, flashing soft light, waiting for someone to touch it.
I approached and pressed the interaction button, and my game nickname popped up on the screen. Then, a seemingly ordinary fried chicken meal appeared on the counter. It is not just a prop in the game, but a subtle symbol. The fried chicken family bucket is transformed into a first aid kit in the game. When the character uses it, he will imitate the action of biting off a chicken leg. French fries become bandages, and drinks become energy drinks. Those actions, subtle but real, seem to tell people that even in the smoke of gunpowder, there is also the brilliance of humanity.
This is a very tense contrast. The gunfire and fighting on the battlefield, as well as the delicate chicken-eating action, build a bridge between cruelty and warmth. Players are eager to survive, but they stop at this moment and quietly “eat” a bite, as if to comfort and affirm themselves.
This setting is not excessive indulgence. Each player can only use it once in each KFC, and must wait until the fourth stage of the game before they can get this comfort again. It is like a rule, restraining desires and maintaining balance. Just like life, the pain and relief of life are always intertwined. You can’t be greedy for warmth too early, nor can you completely reject it.
And this “fried chicken feast” did not stop at Erangel. On maps such as Miramar, Sanhok, and Vikendi, KFC’s signs are everywhere, and even its banners are hung on the planes before takeoff. It has penetrated every corner of the virtual world, just like a cultural imprint hidden in time and space.
Players may have long been accustomed to this, or even happy to accept it. But what I see is not only the changes in the game, but also the reflection of reality. Those who are exhausted by the pressure of life, loneliness and anxiety find a breath of respite in the virtual space. That bite of fried chicken is a symbol of a certain existence and a weak struggle against the indifferent world.
When the boundary between virtual and reality is becoming blurred, such details are particularly precious. It reminds us that human nature will not disappear because of digital packaging, but will show the most real warmth in every silent chewing.
The battlefield is still cold, but occasionally stop, order a piece of fried chicken, and watch the character chew carefully, you will feel a different power-it is not killing, not victory, but life itself.