Everstone Studio and NetEase have recently held the final pre-launch test for Where Winds Meet across both PC and PlayStation 5, and we've taken the opportunity to interview the development team once again (nearly three years after the first time) ahead of the release.
As a reminder, Where Winds Meet is an open world action adventure RPG in the Wuxia fiction, set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which ran from around 907 to 979. In the game, players forge their own path as a Wuxia martial arts hero, a sword master raised amidst war and conflict while concealing a hidden identity. As they navigate a world on the brink of division and unrest, they will be confronted with difficult choices shaping their character's destiny.
The single player is said to last over 150 hours, but there's also plenty of online multiplayer options, as you'll read in the answers to our wide-ranging questions, which were provided by Lead Designer Chris Lyu.
You set up various limited-time tests to gather feedback. Based on user feedback, what were the main changes you applied to the game?
Our main goal has always been to share the world of Eastern martial arts in a way that feels new, exciting, and approachable for players everywhere. We want to present something truly different, but also make sure it’s easy for everyone to connect with, using familiar language and storytelling styles. We’ve held several test phases, and the feedback we’ve received has been incredibly valuable. Players’ insights have helped us make a number of targeted adjustments throughout development.
For localization, we’ve focused on keeping the philosophical depth and poetic spirit of Wuxia, while rewriting dialogue using language and expressions that are comfortable and relatable for global players. We’re also adding full English voice-overs, so the story can be experienced naturally, in players’ own languages. On the user experience front, we’ve simplified the early tutorial system to address concerns about too many mechanics at once, and we’ve redesigned the UI to make cultural symbols—like ink wash motifs and traditional patterns—clear and easy to recognize.
In terms of content, we’re adding explanations for mythological references (like clarifying the difference between the Chinese "Long" and the Western "dragon"), and we’re enhancing visual storytelling to make the cultural elements intuitive. We’ve kept core features like traditional Chinese clothing and landscape-inspired art, so even players unfamiliar with these elements can get an immediate sense of the game’s unique atmosphere.
For iconic systems such as Acupoint Hitting and Acupuncture, we’ve preserved their original forms, but added clearer feedback so the gameplay feels satisfying and intuitive. We’re also reworking social features to highlight universal themes—honor, brotherhood, and growth through adversity—that everyone can relate to. Of course, all of this is still a work in progress. We’re constantly optimizing and refining the game, and we truly hope that, once it’s released, players around the world will enjoy and immerse themselves in this Eastern martial arts world we’re building.
When we last spoke, you said you were still adjusting the world size. Can you share more details about that now?
The world of "Where Winds Meet" is constantly growing, both in scale and in richness. Right now, we’re working hard to prepare new regions and areas, continually adding diverse landscapes and unique architecture to bring the world to life. For this round of testing, we’re excited to open up the brand-new Kaifeng region. Compared to Qinghe—the area we featured in earlier tests—Kaifeng is 1.5 times larger. At its heart is a sprawling city covering over one million square meters, a grand metropolis designed to capture the imagination.
It’s a completely new, distinctive area, and we truly hope players will be as inspired by its scale and majesty as we are. When we designed Qinghe, our vision was to create a sense of “home.” Unlike bustling cities, Qinghe is peaceful and pure—endless fields, simple villages, and vibrant natural ecosystems. The region features sweeping wildlands, secluded settlements, winding rivers, and hidden caves. But it’s also shaped by history: set in the late Tang dynasty, when warlords divided the land and conflict was frequent. You’ll see war-torn ruins, deserted temples, secret underground passages, and yet also encounter villages rich with human warmth and stories. Local martial arts factions hide among the mountains, weaving together a landscape that is both complex and deeply narrative-driven.
Each of these areas feels like a slice of history, filled with dramatic and touching stories waiting to be discovered. Players can follow the main storyline to gradually unravel these mysteries, or explore freely and uncover hidden legends on their own, weaving their own adventures through the city’s alleyways and markets. Looking ahead, we have even more unique and fascinating regions planned for future updates. The world of "Where Winds Meet" will only keep expanding, and we can’t wait for players to experience all the stories and wonders we’re preparing.
On the Steam page, you mentioned that Where Winds Meet features a 'rich, narrative-driven campaign'. Is there a full-fledged storyline? Can players make choices at specific points?
Our goal is to offer players a truly open-world experience with a high degree of freedom, while still telling a deep and complete main story. To achieve this, we’ve chosen to let player choices have the greatest impact in side quests, adventure stories, and world exploration, rather than on the main storyline. For example, when players explore the world and encounter various side missions or activities, they can approach challenges in different ways. You might choose to defeat your enemies with martial arts and accomplish your goal through combat. Alternatively, you could become a master persuader, using your words to convince opponents and avoid fighting altogether. Or, you might use your medical skills to heal those you meet—including your enemies—turning potential foes into friends. We want every player to feel that their decisions matter and that there are always multiple paths to any outcome.
In our previous chat, you said the story wouldn't account for much of the whole game. Has that changed?
That’s something we’ve thought about a lot. We want to weave the story seamlessly into the world itself, without ever breaking the core open-world experience. For us, the real magic of an open world comes from immersive exploration and meaningful interaction with the environment. So, instead of forcing the story upon players, we’ve carefully hidden narrative fragments throughout the world. Players are encouraged to discover and piece together these story elements on their own, through exploration and curiosity. As you uncover and connect these fragments, a sweeping epic gradually unfolds before you—one that feels truly personal and rewarding because you brought it together yourself.
Regarding multiplayer, the Steam page says that users can 'open up their world to a group of up to four players'. Does that mean the campaign and story can be fully completed with a group of players?
"Where Winds Meet" is designed to give players the best of both worlds. In Single Player mode, you can fully immerse yourself in a rich, personal martial arts journey, experiencing the story at your own pace. Certain key storylines and moments are meant to be completed solo, allowing for a truly individual adventure. At the same time, you can invite up to four other players into your game to explore the world together when you wish.
If you’re looking for even more dynamic interactions, you can seamlessly enter the lively "Jianghu" multiplayer world. Here, you can team up with friends for challenging combat, cooperative missions, and shared adventures. These two modes are designed to complement each other, giving you the freedom to play however you like—whether you prefer exploring alone or joining forces with others, the choice is always yours.
Indeed, these other features of Where Winds Meet sound a lot like an MMO: creating a guild, fighting in guild wars, multiplayer dungeons, epic raids, and more. There's also mention of 'thousands of fellow adventurers'. Can you explain how this is going to work? Are there different servers to choose from when transitioning to multiplayer?
Our Multiplayer mode is designed specifically to recreate the authentic, living world of the "Jianghu"—the legendary community of martial artists and wanderers. We want players to truly feel what it’s like to live and interact in this ancient world, meeting and dealing with other real players who are all playing their own unique roles. The core of our Multiplayer design rests on two main pillars:
- The social enjoyment of real player interactions;
- A strong sense of martial arts immersion and role-playing. With these in mind, we’ve created features where players can form and role-play as in-game organizations—like escort agencies or taverns—and work together to build their reputation through cooperative construction and activities. You might play as a traveling doctor and join with other healers to treat sick players, or take on the role of a shadowy vigilante, standing up for others and upholding justice in the world.
We also offer flexible ways to access Multiplayer content. For example, if you encounter a particularly challenging boss, you can summon other players to assist you using the in-game support system. There are dedicated options for switching into Multiplayer mode whenever you want to enjoy these unique experiences. At this stage, players don’t need to choose servers—everything is seamlessly integrated to keep the community together. Ultimately, our goal is to create a dynamic, social, and immersive Jianghu where every player can find their own place and story.
As I understand it, Where Winds Meet will be free to play. Can you discuss the monetization system? Can you reassure fans that it won't be a pay-to-win game? Will there be a Battle Pass?
Yes, "Where Winds Meet" is a free-to-play game. We offer options like a battle pass, a monthly subscription, and paid cosmetic items. And yes, there will be absolutely no pay-to-win content. So everyone can enjoy a fair and balanced experience.
What are your post-launch plans? What kind of content can players expect after release, and how often?
Our goal is to build "Where Winds Meet" into a living, ever-evolving world. We’re committed to supporting the game for the long term with major updates that expand the lore, deepen gameplay, and respond to player feedback. Future content will continue to enrich both the single-player story experience and the multiplayer social and cooperative aspects, ensuring there’s always something new for different types of players.
Thank you for your time.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
