{
  "id": 9165672,
  "title": "Tragedy: Crusader Kings 3's pope DLC will not let you use blood boys to prolong your life, and yes I did ask the devs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tragedy-crusader-kings-3s-pope-dlc-will-not-let-you-use-blood-boys-to",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-22T15:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/tragedy-crusader-kings-3s-pope-dlc-will-not-let-you-use-blood-boys-to-prolong-your-life-and-yes-i-did-ask-the-devs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Crusader Kings 3 will introduce the ability to play as the pope in the upcoming By God Alone expansion, set to launch on September 30. The expansion promises to offer players a taste of the papal power and pageantry. However, one aspect that remains out of bounds is the inclusion of blood boys in the game. Despite the historical account of Pope Innocent VIII in the 15th century, who allegedly received blood transfusions from three boys who ultimately died, this feature has been ruled out for the game.\n\nThe developers emphasize that the decision was made due to realism and appropriateness. Jesse Henning, a Paradox PR manager, explained that while such a feature may not be out of the realm of possibility, it is not included in By God Alone due to ethical considerations. The story of Innocent VIII serves as a reminder of the deception and exploitation that have accompanied the quest for anti-ageing cures throughout history. However, the developers have decided to steer clear of this particular plot twist in their game.",
  "summary": "If it was good enough for Pope Innocent VIII…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}