Who was that masked man? That’s what a variety of gamers have been questioning on Thursday (August 29) earlier than the id of the mysterious Shadow Duelist Nocturne was unveiled in the course of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Grasp Duel livestream.
Because it seems, it was none aside from Zayn Malik, 31, a lifelong fan of the free digital card recreation who didn’t play within the event, however whose reveal was teased earlier this month as a “movie star in disguise,” together with earlier hints that he thriller man was “cloaked in shadow and draped in melody” and was a part of a “celebrated brotherhood of troubadours.” When the large second got here, Malik, sporting black leather-based gloves and a black go well with, slowly pulled off the character’s gold and black voice altering helmet with glowing inexperienced eyes because the occasion’s hosts misplaced their minds.
Earlier than the reveal, the hosts shared a the plain penultimate clue, which learn, “From nightfall until daybreak, Nocturne fills the air with Stardust and PILLOWTALK,” a triple-down on Zayn solo single hints.
The winner of Thursday’s event not solely earned bragging rights, but in addition a signed copy of the masks as a part of their prize package deal. After a participant referred to as Fictinium emerged victorious, Malik eliminated his masks and talked about his love of the franchise that features video games, anime and enjoying playing cards.
“Yeah, I’m a giant, huge Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. I’ve been into Yu-Gi-Oh! for a very long time, since I used to be a small child, so it’s an honor to be right here, to do that, and it was very thrilling,” stated Malik, who supplied up game-play commentary on the ultimate 4 alongside the evening’s hosts, Steven Kangas and Billy Brake. “I’ve been wanting ahead to it for just a few weeks.”
Zayn stated he was excited to put on the cool masks as a result of he loves dressing in costume, but in addition was approach into watching everybody compete as he signed the within of the masks for Fictinium. The singer additionally ran down his favourite battles, shared his packed childhood Yu-Gi-Oh! binder and revealed his favourite card whereas speaking about his Yu-Gi origin story, which concerned first enjoying the sport when he was “actually younger” on his Gameboy Advance SP.
“What’s my favourite card? Clearly, I’ve the Capturing Star Dragon — and, clearly, it’s considered one of my strongest playing cards, that’s why I prefer it a lot,” Zayn stated, displaying his leather-based binder — with the sport’s identify hand-scrawled throughout the entrance in Sharpie — and a few of his most treasured playing cards. “I’ve the Capturing Quasar Dragon, too.” And, for the file, if he was to file a theme track for the collection, it might be one thing “excessive vitality” with an “early 2000s rock” vibe.
The singer, who joked about calling his subsequent album, Yami Yugi, displayed a deep information of the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe, whereas additionally taking a second to tease upcoming music. Saying he was “honored to be right here,” Zayn additionally instructed viewers that he has “some attention-grabbing stuff popping out with my music fairly quickly. Some fairly huge bulletins arising, so when you’re excited by my music in any respect, I’ve obtained some cool information coming fairly quickly.”
Zayn signed a brand new recording contract with Mercury Data final summer season and launched his fourth solo album, Room Below the Stairs, in Might.
Watch Zayn’s reveal under.