Platform
DragonSword: Awakening is confirmed for PC via Steam at launch. Steam Deck support is listed as being in preparation through Proton. Linux native and mobile releases have not been announced. Console versions are planned after the Steam launch, with which platform comes first not yet decided, so PC via Steam remains the only platform confirmed for launch day. A PlayStation 5 build is among those under internal discussion.
Supported Languages
The Steam store page lists eleven supported interface and subtitle languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish (Spain), Russian, Thai, and Brazilian Portuguese. Korean is also marked for full audio support.
That list is the settled one. In the late-May 2026 developer Q&A, Hound13 said German, French, Russian, and Portuguese localisations were in preparation and that Spanish was not a priority at the time; Thai and Spanish were added shortly afterwards, which is how the set grew from the five languages announced early in the campaign to the eleven on the final listing. Every non-Korean language is interface and subtitles only. Hound13 has said a Japanese voice track could not be funded in time for launch and is not committed to for any later date.
System Requirements and Hardware Support
The store listing targets a modest 64-bit Windows 10 machine. The minimum tier is an Intel Core i5-9400F, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1660 on DirectX 12; the recommended tier is an i7-9700F, 16 GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3060. Both tiers ask for 25 GB of free space, and the listing adds an unusually firm hardware note: an SSD is required for a smooth experience, because installing to a hard drive can cause extended loading, texture pop-in, frame drops, or crashes.
The build supports Steam Cloud saves, Steam achievements, stats, and Family Sharing. Controller coverage is listed as partial, with explicit DualShock and DualSense support alongside keyboard and mouse. The listing also declares several comfort and accessibility features: camera comfort options, custom volume controls, adjustable difficulty, and both stereo and surround sound output.
Age Ratings
Ratings issued ahead of launch place the game in the teen-and-up band across four boards.
Board | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Korea (GRAC) | 15 | Ages 15 and over |
Brazil (DEJUS) | 14 | Ages 14 and over, cited for inappropriate language and fantasy violence |
Germany (USK) | 6 | Ages 6 and over, cited for crude language and fantasy violence |
Indonesia (IGRS) | 13 | Ages 13 and over, cited for language use and violence |
Pricing
As a buy-to-play title the game is a single purchase with no subscription, no battle pass, and no gacha. Hound13 confirmed the Standard Edition launch price as $29.99 USD and €29.99 EUR (₩33,000 in Korea), with regional pricing set through a conversion approach that factors in exchange rates and local purchasing power. The studio confirmed the release day on June 18, 2026: the game launches worldwide on July 23, 2026 at 07:00 KST.
Hound13 also plans a Deluxe Edition is priced at $49.99 and bundles the base game with a digital artbook of roughly 80 pages of concept art, the original soundtrack, and the Deluxe-exclusive familiar Brave Baby Dragon. Hound13 is considering a launch discount on the Deluxe Edition only. Because this is the studio's first release, pre-purchase is not offered, so sales begin on the July 23 launch day, and the Abyssal Direwolf familiar is free for all players from July 23 through August 31, 2026 before reverting to its standard price. Steam achievements and trophies are planned for the launch build. Character costumes and additional Familiars are the only paid post-launch categories alongside expansion packs.
Release Timeline
Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
Internal development of DragonSword (Hound13's pre-reveal codename for the game) | 2021 - 2023 |
Korean closed beta test pre-registration | May 8, 2025 |
Korean launch via Webzen as free-to-play | January 21, 2026 |
Hound13 terminates Webzen publishing contract (see Webzen Publishing Dispute) | February 13, 2026 |
Hound13 announces self-published Steam rework and opens Steam page | April 10, 2026 |
Steam FAQ posted by Hound13 | April 13, 2026 |
Kalien Hero Trailer | April 17, 2026 |
Theresia Hero Trailer | April 2026 |
Webzen files injunction request to block the DragonSword: Awakening release | April 21, 2026 |
April 30, 2026 | |
Lute Gameplay Preview, plus Lute / Castella / Aria Tag Combo Preview | April - May 2026 |
Developer live stream and replay posted | May 7, 2026 |
Ornette Hero Trailer plus 100,000-wishlist milestone announcement | May 14, 2026 |
Second developer live stream with Director JYJ | May 22, 2026 |
Text-based Ask Me Anything event via official Discord | May 21 - 27, 2026 |
Charlotte reveal and third developer live stream | June 5, 2026 |
Demo at Steam Next Fest | June 5 - July 7, 2026 |
Official launch date and Deluxe Edition announced (Roadmap Livestream) | June 18, 2026 |
Post-launch roadmap and Q&A recap (four new Heroes, Hero Quests, Rift System) | June 19, 2026 |
200,000-wishlist milestone reached; demo named a Steam Next Fest Most Played title; demo period extended to July 7 | June 23, 2026 |
Global Steam release (Western launch), 07:00 KST worldwide | July 23, 2026 |
World 2 expansion | Post-launch, no date published |
Western vs Korean Release
The Western Steam release, retitled DragonSword: Awakening, is a total rework of the Korean free-to-play DragonSword. Hound13 terminated its Korean publishing deal with Webzen over an unpaid minimum guarantee, then pivoted to a self-published buy-to-play package on Steam. Everything about the Western build has been tuned for the single-player package model rather than the live-service F2P one. See the dedicated Webzen Publishing Dispute article for the full history and the Buy-to-Play Model page for the resulting monetisation policy.
What Ships at Launch
All of World 1, meaning 8 main-story chapters plus additional Hero quests and a new Eastern region added specifically for the Steam release.
All 19 playable Heroes, obtainable through story progression and in-game activities.
Open-world exploration of the Continent of Orbis on foot and by Familiar mount.
Opt-in Co-Op for Subjugation and Raid content.
Future Content
Hound13 has publicly said that expansion packs introducing new characters and worlds are part of the long-term plan for the Western release. World 2, set on the floating islands, is the named expansion. Post-launch store-side monetisation sits on character costumes and additional Familiars.