The fantasy genre often leans on mythic grandeur, but Project Windless—Krafton’s latest venture—subverts expectations with a protagonist who is, in every sense, a 7-foot-tall chicken warlord. Not a metaphor. Not a mascot. A literal, bipedal, sword-wielding avian terror who carves through enemies with relentless fury, his feathers stained with the blood of his foes.
This isn’t the meditative, Jet Li-esque heroism fans of The Bird That Drinks Tears* novel series might have imagined. It’s a prequel set 1,500 years before the original story, where players step into the role of the Hero King, a rekon—a race of colossal, bird-like beings known for their unmatched strength and brutality. The game’s world is a battleground where alliances shift, wars unfold in real time, and legend is forged through direct player agency.
What people expected
- A refined, atmospheric fantasy RPG, possibly akin to Hero (2002), blending martial arts and myth.
- A more subtle, character-driven adaptation of the novel’s poetic tone.
- A multiplayer or live-service experience, given Krafton’s PUBG roots.
- A premium singleplayer RPG with no multiplayer or live-service elements.
- A large-scale tactical combat system where players influence entire battles, not just individual duels.
- A dark, high-stakes fantasy where the Hero King isn’t a noble warrior—he’s a war machine, a rekon warlord who demands fear before victory.
The game’s world introduces four intelligent races—rekons, Nhaga, Tokkebi, and humans—each with distinct cultures and conflicts. Combat is real-time, fast-paced, and skill-based, but Krafton’s Mass Technology allows players to control not just their character but entire armies, shaping the outcome of wars. This isn’t about observing history; it’s about writing it.
The reveal during Krafton’s State of Play showcase left little room for doubt: the Hero King isn’t here to inspire. He’s here to dominate. His dual swords flash in the dark, his enemies flee, and his legend is carved into the bones of those who stand against him.
- This is Krafton’s first non-multiplayer RPG, a bold shift for the studio behind PUBG.
- The prequel setting expands the Bird That Drinks Tears* universe while making it accessible to new players.
- The tactical scale of combat—where players direct entire battles—sets it apart from traditional RPGs.
No release date has been announced, but the game’s website is expected to go live soon. For now, the only certainty is this: the Hero King does not forgive. He does not hesitate. And he will drink your tears.
