Project Windless has officially been announced for PS5, with PUBG publisher Krafton revealing its ambitious open-world action RPG during PlayStation’s latest State of Play. Developed by Krafton Montréal Studio, the game is set in the universe of the Korean fantasy novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears and promises large-scale battles, player-driven storytelling, and a very unusual hero.
If you caught the trailer, you already know this is not your typical Western-style fantasy RPG.
A New Open-World RPG Set In The Bird That Drinks Tears Universe
Project Windless is based on The Bird That Drinks Tears, a high-fantasy novel series written by South Korean author Lee Youngdoo that first began in 2003. Rather than retelling the books directly, the developers are taking players more than a thousand years before the events of the novels, exploring a largely untouched era in the timeline.
According to Krafton Montréal Studio head and creative director Patrik Méthé, the team was drawn to the setting because it felt darker, stranger, and more tragic than traditional Western fantasy worlds. Each race in the universe has its own worldview and complex history, and conflicts are rarely clean or heroic. The studio believes that tone naturally suits an open-world structure, where players can wander, uncover hidden stories, and shape events themselves.
Krafton describes the game as a single-player open-world action RPG where players step into a mythic age, stand against overwhelming odds, forge alliances, and wage war across massive battlefields to unite a fractured land.
You Play As A Rekon Warrior
One of the biggest talking points from the reveal is the protagonist. Players take on the role of a Rekon, a nomadic warrior race of humanoid birds known for immense physical strength and size.
Yes, that means you are effectively playing as a sword-wielding bird warrior.
While early reactions online have jokingly labelled it a “chicken with a sword,” the trailer makes it clear this is a brutal, stylised action game. The Rekon is fast, powerful, and built for one-versus-many combat scenarios. Despite their strength, Rekons are portrayed as solitary figures with strong personal beliefs and vulnerabilities, including a well-known fear of water, adding a layer of character depth beyond raw power.
In the story, you step into the role of a mythical figure whose actions influence the birth of a new kingdom during a time of rising tensions and division.
Massive Battles Powered By Mass Technology
Combat appears to be one of Project Windless’ defining features. The reveal trailer showcased battlefields packed with hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of enemies on screen at once.
Krafton says these large-scale encounters are powered by its so-called Mass Technology, allowing crowds to move, flank, surround, and react dynamically rather than acting as simple background spectacle. The intention is to create chaotic, war-like scenarios where players must constantly read the battlefield and adapt.
The tone of the combat has drawn comparisons to Dynasty Warriors-style action, with the Rekon carving through swarms of enemies, though Project Windless positions itself firmly as an open-world RPG rather than a mission-based hack-and-slash game.
In addition to cutting through hordes, players will also face towering creatures that dominate the battlefield, pushing encounters beyond simple crowd control.
Led By A Former Far Cry Director
Project Windless is being developed by Krafton Montréal Studio, led by Patrik Méthé, a former Ubisoft veteran. Méthé previously served as game director on Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Far Cry: New Dawn, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction before joining Krafton in late 2022.
The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 and is designed to serve as an entry point for players unfamiliar with The Bird That Drinks Tears universe, rather than assuming prior knowledge of the novels.
Méthé has said the core idea behind Project Windless is player agency, not just in combat, but in how wars unfold, alliances are formed, and history is written. The studio wants players to feel like they are actively creating legend, not simply observing it.
Release Window And Platforms
At this stage, Project Windless does not have a release date. The continued use of the “Project” codename suggests it may still be several years away from launch.
What has been confirmed is that the game is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro.
Krafton, best known for publishing PUBG: Battlegrounds, as well as titles like The Callisto Protocol and InZOI, is clearly positioning Project Windless as a major AAA expansion beyond its battle royale roots.
With large-scale warfare, a unique fantasy setting, and a sword-wielding Rekon at its centre, Project Windless is shaping up to be one of the more unusual open-world RPG reveals from this year’s State of Play. We will likely hear more as development progresses.