Project Windless Is An Open World RPG Based On The Bird That Drinks Tears Korean Fantasy Novel Series

KRAFTON Montreal Studio has announced open-world action-RPG Project Windless, an adaptation of the Korean novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears. The game is currently in development for PS5 and PC, and has been in production since 2022; a release date has yet to be announced.

Project Windless is a single-player experience that focuses on a conflict spanning several continents, and combines grand storytelling with ‘mastery-driven combat’ and huge real-time battles. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and includes a non-linear structure where your decisions will forge alliances and shape the broader conflict that unfolds throughout the world, as you explore, battle enemies, and interact with key factions.

While Project Windless is designed to stand on its own for new players, its world is rooted in The Bird That Drinks Tears, a landmark Korean fantasy series by author Lee Yeong-do. Instead of directly adapting the novels, the game is set approximately 1,500 years before the original story, during a largely unexplored mythical age when legends were still being formed. This approach allows Project Windless to serve as an entry point for global audiences while also expanding the universe for longtime fans. The world features four intelligent races: Humans, Rekon, Nhaga, and Tokkebi. Each race has its own culture, conflicts, and worldview.

Players will take on the role of a mighty warrior of the Recon Race known as the Hero King. These creatures are a race of towering humanoid bird beings that are highly feared for their strength and ferocity, with the Hero King wielding twin star-forged blades, making him a powerful force against overwhelming odds.

Patrik Methe, KRAFTON Montreal Studio Head and Creative Director, commented:

From the start, we asked ourselves what it really means to play a legendary figure in a fantasy world. For us, that meant giving players real agency, not just in combat, but in how wars unfold, how alliances are formed, and how history is written. Project Windless is built around the idea that legend is not something you observe, it is something you actively create through play.

Project Windless is in development for PS5 and PC with a release date yet to be determined.