Krafton Montréal Studio unveiled Project Windless during February’s State of Play, marking the first official look at their upcoming open-world action RPG for PlayStation 5. The studio announced they have been developing the game for several years. Project Windless takes place in the universe of The Bird That Drinks Tears, a Korean fantasy novel series.

Rather than adapting the existing story from the books, the game is set over a thousand years before the novels’ events. Players will experience a time period that the original series only briefly mentions. The setting features a divided land where rising tensions lead to the birth of a new kingdom.

Players take on the role of a Rekon, a race of humanoid birds known for their warrior culture. Rekons are nomadic, physically large, and very strong. The development team chose this race because their speed, reach, and physical presence fit well with the game’s combat style.

Krafton Montréal designed Project Windless as an open world with minimal guidance. Players can explore freely and choose their own path through the game. The studio aims to let players decide what kind of story they want to create through their choices.

Combat focuses on fighting large groups of enemies at once. Players regularly face dozens or hundreds of opponents in battle. The studio uses what they call “mass technology” to make these crowds behave realistically – enemies move, flank, surround, and respond to player actions. Battles can also include large creatures alongside the standard enemy groups.

Project Windless is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro. No release date has been announced yet.