KRAFTON Reveals Open-World RPG Project Windless at State of Play
KRAFTON, the publisher behind PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, has officially unveiled its new open-world action RPG titled Project Windless. The game was revealed during Sony’s PlayStation State of Play presentation with its debut trailer. Project Windless is based on the Korean epic fantasy novel series “The Bird That Drinks Tears” by author Lee Yeongdo, though it is not a direct adaptation. Instead, the game is set approximately 1,500 years before the events of the original story, exploring a previously untapped mythological era. Developed by KRAFTON’s Montreal studio using Unreal Engine 5, the game promises a player-driven experience in a world shaped by myth, war, and legendary heroes.
Project Windless features a nonlinear structure where player choices in exploration, combat, and interactions with key factions will influence alliance relationships and shape the overarching conflict across the world. The game’s universe includes four intelligent races: Humans, Rykong (tall humanoid bird-like beings), Naga, and Tokebi, each with distinct cultures, conflicts, and worldviews. The narrative combines cinematic storytelling with combat that emphasizes skill depth, presenting massive real-time battlefields. This approach allows the game to serve as both a new entry point for global players and an expansion of the universe for existing fans of the source material.
Players assume the role of the “Hero King,” a legendary warrior from the Rykong race known for overwhelming strength and ferocity. The Hero King wields a pair of star-forged swords capable of cutting through dozens of enemies simultaneously, facing giant creatures, and leading allied forces when battles escalate to epic proportions. A core feature is the Mass Technology, which enables real-time engagements with thousands of soldiers and massive creatures on dynamic battlefields. Combat is described as fully real-time, fast-paced, and skill-oriented, offering a “one-versus-many” experience that blends personal action combat with the scale and pressure of full-scale warfare.
Project Windless is being developed as a high-quality single-player game with no multiplayer modes or live-service content. The project represents a global collaboration between KRAFTON’s North American AAA development center in Montreal and the Korean Pangyo team, combining Western AAA development experience with authentic cultural expression inspired by Korean mythology. Alongside the debut trailer, KRAFTON has released the game’s first development log, sharing creative vision, world design, and development philosophy. The game is currently in development for PC and console platforms, with more information to be announced later. Given KRAFTON’s track record and the ambitious scope shown in the reveal, Project Windless appears to be a promising addition to the open-world RPG genre worth watching closely.
