Project Windless Is A Sword-Wielding Chicken RPG From PUBG's Parent Company – Everything We Know

During Sony’s recent State of Play, the company made a series of big announcements, including the reveal of the next game from PUBG owner Krafton. Project Windless, as it’s known for now, is an open-world action RPG in the works for PC and PS5 (and possibly other console platforms) that is inspired by the Korean novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears. Some call the books the “Korean Lord of the Rings.”

The game made an immediate splash thanks to its impressive and eye-catching trailer and the fact that the game puts you into the claws and beak of a Rekon, a warrior humanoid bird. The game’s reveal prompted a number of memes and jokes, including the inevitable Peter Griffin vs. Ernie the Giant Chicken references.

Here’s everything we know so far about Project Windless, which we assume is not the game’s final title. Keep checking back, as we’ll update this post with more information as it’s announced.

When will Project Windless be released?

Project Windless does not gave a release date as of yet, or even a release window or a release year. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s super far away from release, but it also doesn’t mean it’s not either. The footage released so far represents the game in a pre-alpha state. The developer said the game has been in development for “years” already.

Who is making Project Windless?

Project Windless is in development at Krafton Montreal Studio. Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant, is the owner of a number of games and studios, with PUBG its biggest and most popular.

Patrik Méthé is the studio head and creative director for Project Windless. Méthé previously worked on a variety of Ubisoft franchises, including Far Cry, Rainbow Six, and Splinter Cell.

Project Windless trailers

The first trailer for Project Windless debuted at Sony’s State of Play event in February 2026. The trailer was captured on PS5 Pro and shows off pre-alpha footage that combines gameplay and in-game cinematics. The full trailer can be seen on YouTube, while a developer diary is available, too.

Project Windless platforms

Project Windless was announced for PS5. The developer’s website also lists the game for PC. A press release from Krafton said the game is in the works for PC and consoles, plural, suggesting it could come to Xbox as well, or possibly even Switch.

Project Windless preorders

Preorders for Project Windless are not yet open.

Project Windless story, setting, and characters

Project Windless is set in the universe of the Korean fantasy series The Bird That Drinks Tears. The game does not adapt the story of the books, though, but instead tells a narrative set thousands of years before the events of the novels.

“In this forgotten age, the land is divided, and as tensions rise, you step into the role of a mythical figure whose actions will shape the birth of a new kingdom,” reads a line from the game’s description.

Project Windless puts players into the role of a “Rekon,” which is a humanoid bird known for its incredible strength and size. The game’s combat aims to offer a “bigger and wilder” take on the traditional action RPG, the developers said in a post on the PlayStation Blog.

In a press release, Krafton said the Unreal Engine 5-powered single-player game has “massive real-time battles” and “one-versus-many combat.” This is powered by Krafton’s own “Mass Technology” tools, which the studio says allows for “thousands of soldiers and creatures to clash in real time.”

“As little hand-holding as possible”

The developers said the game has been designed with player agency in mind, with the studio specifically saying they want the game to feel like “your world, not ours.”

“We made it an open world with as little hand-holding as possible. You are free to chart your own course, the world rarely forces you in a single direction. Whether you’re exploring on your own, delving into a hidden story, or preparing up for a massive battle, we want your journey to feel personal and authentic, full of unexpected moments,” the studio explained. “Instead of guiding players step by step, the world is designed to encourage curiosity, to take risks, to forge alliances, to wage war, and ultimately to decide what kind of legend you, as a player, want to become.”

How Project Windless uses AI

In 2025, Krafton announced that it was spending many millions of dollars to reorganize its business around AI, so many might have wondered what this could mean for Project Windless.

The company never said its AI ambitions would mean it would push AI and generative AI into all of its games and projects. Instead, Krafton said at the time that it was leaning into AI to help with project-management tasks so its workers could focus on creative endeavors to make better games.

Following Project Windless’ reveal, Krafton confirmed that the game’s developers used AI to help create the project, but AI-based elements are not a “central, player-facing feature.” Speaking to Eurogamer, Krafton said AI was used “during exploratory phases” for the game to help drive efficiency.

“Krafton’s studios operate with a high degree of creative independence, enabling each team to select the tools and methods that best suit their projects,” a Krafton spokesperson said.

Krafton’s team in Montreal that’s developing Project Windless is employing what the developer said is a “traditional, craftsmanship-driven approach” to development.

Beyond the previously mentioned AI implementation during the game’s early development phases, Krafton said Project Windless–like many other games–uses AI systems for NPC behavior.

“These systems govern how characters react, move, and behave in the environment. We are not using generative AI for content creation or narrative elements,” the developer explained.

Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on Project Windless as more information becomes available.

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