Project Windless is a premium single-player open-world action RPG developed by KRAFTON Montréal Studio and published by KRAFTON. The game is based on the acclaimed Korean fantasy novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears by Lee Yeong-do. It was revealed at the PlayStation State of Play on February 12, 2026, with a gameplay trailer and developer diary.
Players take on the role of the Hero King, a legendary Rekon warrior who wields twin star-forged blades called Baragi and Dalbari. The game is set approximately 1,500 years before the events of the novels, during a largely unexplored mythical age when legends were still being formed. It tells the story of the founding of the Arajit Kingdom, the first and only kingdom ever established by a Rekon.
The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and features KRAFTON's proprietary Mass Technology, which enables thousands of soldiers and massive creatures to clash in real-time across dynamic battlefields. It has been described by press outlets as a blend of Dynasty Warriors-scale combat with the precision of a modern action RPG, and has drawn comparisons to God of War in its visceral, character-driven approach.
Key features
Action | Key/Button |
|---|---|
Open-world exploration | A non-linear world where player decisions shape alliances and the broader conflict. No glowing trails or cluttered HUDs. Organic exploration with minimal hand-holding. |
Mass Technology | KRAFTON's proprietary system that simulates hundreds to thousands of smart, reactive soldiers on the battlefield simultaneously. Enemies move, flank, surround, and react dynamically to the player. |
Skill-based combat | Real-time, fast-paced combat that emphasizes precision over button-mashing, with one-versus-many encounters at its core. |
Four races | The world is inhabited by Rekon, Nhaga, Tokkebi, and Humans each with distinct cultures, abilities, and motivations. |
Korean fantasy | A dark fantasy setting rooted in Korean mythology and storytelling traditions, distinct from Western fantasy conventions. |
Platforms and release
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Platforms | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
Release date | TBA (a 2026 target was mentioned in KRAFTON's Q3 2023 earnings report, but no specific date has been confirmed) |
Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
Multiplayer | None. Designed as a premium single-player experience with no multiplayer or live-service components. |
Setting
The game takes place approximately 1,500 years before the events of The Bird That Drinks Tears novels. This era is described as a turning point that the novels barely touch on. A time when the four races were in open conflict and legends were actively being written. The visual design is led by Iain McCaig (the Hollywood concept artist known for designing Darth Maul) and uses Hangeul, the Korean phonetic alphabet, as the world's written system to build a unique cultural identity.
The game is not a direct adaptation of the novels. Instead it tells a new narrative set in the same world, exploring the rise of the Hero King and the founding of the Arajit Kingdom during a continent-spanning war.
Reception
The State of Play reveal generated significant attention. Media outlets nicknamed the game the "Korean Witcher," though the developers have noted the comparison is reductive. The game's scale, visual fidelity, and unique Korean fantasy setting were widely praised in coverage from Game Informer, Fextralife, RPG Site, and others.
Development
Development is led by KRAFTON Montréal Studio, founded in October 2022 under the creative direction of Patrik Méthé, a veteran of Ubisoft Montréal who directed Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, and Rainbow Six: Extraction. The Montréal team collaborates closely with KRAFTON's teams in Pangyo, South Korea to ensure cultural authenticity.