Krafton’s ‘Project Windless’ Aims to Usher in a Novel Era for Korean Fantasy Games

South Korean game developer Krafton is betting big on the global appeal of Korean fantasy literature with its upcoming triple-A console game, ‘Project Windless,’ based on Lee Youngdo’s acclaimed novel series, The Bird That Drinks Tears. This move reflects a growing trend among Asian game companies to leverage their rich cultural heritage and literary traditions for international success.

Adapting a Korean Fantasy Epic

‘Project Windless’ was revealed with its first trailer at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s ‘State of Play’ digital showcase. The game, developed by Krafton Montreal Studio, is an open-world action role-playing game (RPG) built using Unreal Engine 5. It’s set approximately 1,500 years before the events of the original novels, during the ‘Mythical Age.’

Players will embody Recon warriors, known as ‘Hero Kings,’ and participate in the establishment of the first human kingdom, ‘Arajit.’ The game aims for high-fidelity graphics and features a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) battle system capable of simulating hundreds of enemies simultaneously. Krafton emphasizes that AI is being used as a tool to enhance development efficiency, with the core game creation remaining a traditional single-player development process.

A Collaborative Approach with the Author

Notably, Lee Youngdo, the author of The Bird That Drinks Tears, is actively collaborating on major creative decisions to ensure the game remains faithful to the original worldbuilding. This collaboration is intended to maintain the legitimacy of the novel’s established lore and aesthetics.

The Rise of ‘K-Genre’ in Gaming

Krafton’s initiative is part of a broader trend of Korean game companies adapting popular web novels and fantasy literature for the global market. Netmarble previously achieved success with ‘Only I Level Up: Arise,’ based on a popular web novel and webtoon, demonstrating the potential of leveraging existing fandoms for international reach. Nexon Games is also developing ‘Woochi the Wayfarer,’ inspired by the Korean traditional tale ‘Jeon Woochi.’

This strategy mirrors similar efforts in Japan and China, where game developers are increasingly drawing inspiration from their respective countries’ folklore and historical narratives. Examples include ‘Black Myth: Wukong,’ a reimagining of ‘Journey to the West,’ and its sequel ‘Jonggyu.’

Expanding Beyond IP Licensing

Industry observers believe the key to success lies in moving beyond simple IP licensing and achieving “world view export.” A game company official stated that the combination of triple-A console game development capabilities, global publishing networks, and the strength of the original IP will be crucial for expanding the scope of Korean genre literature in the global gaming market. The Bird That Drinks Tears is renowned for its original worldbuilding featuring languages, belief systems, and sociopolitical structures for each race.