Report: Krafton’s “Project Windless” Character Details Surfaces

In May 2021, Krafton, the publisher behind titles like PUBG and The Callisto Protocol, announced the development of “Project Windless,” an ambitious game set to adapt the popular Korean fantasy novel “The Bird That Drinks Tears” by Yeongdo Lee.

The project is being handled by Krafton Montreal, a new studio established in 2023. The studio is led by Patrik Méthé, a veteran in the gaming industry known for his work on the Far Cry series. Méthé brings a wealth of experience to the table, having been involved in the development of several successful titles. Along with other industry veterans, the studio’s end goal is to hire 150 people to complete the work on this first project.

In 2022, a conceptual trailer developed in Unreal Engine 5 was released, showcasing the game’s dark and fantastical aesthetic. Since its announcement, several pieces of concept art have also been revealed.

Now, it has come to light that casting calls for the game’s characters were held in July of this year. This aligns with Krafton’s Q2 2023 Earning Results, which indicated that the game was concluding its conceptual phase and moving into a more advanced stage of development. Additionally, it was revealed in the same year that the game is projected for release in 2026.

The casting calls mention six characters by their name alongside detailed descriptions. However, these seem to be placeholder names (being obvious in the first example) as they do not originate from the novel. The descriptions read as follows:

 Hero (Male)

• Character Age: 25
• Character Race: a birdlike humanoid species.
• Demeanor: Moves like a fighter. Almost military but more instinctive, animal.
• Keywords: Legendary, Powerful, Hot-blooded, Rough, Exuberant.
• Personality: Years of winning lethal challenges have built Hero’s confidence in his own strength, but beyond this admired might, he feels vulnerable or empty. Overconfident in his physical abilities, Hero struggles with internal doubts and is often manipulated through his ego and image, making it difficult for him to trust others. Though he boasts about his independence, he secretly craves connection. Proud of the powerful legend he has become, Hero dreads the growing weight of responsibility and the moral complexities of decisions that impact many lives. He fears losing his true self to the role he’s played and leaving behind a legacy he might not be proud of.

Otti (Male)

• Character Age: 98
• Character Race: Tokebi.
• Demeanor: Graceful, mannered, yet heavy.
• Keywords: Confident, Casanova, Charming.
• Build: Bulky.
• Personality: Confident, wise, relaxed. Sharp as a whip, he never shies away from a good joke, and no one can believe he is really 98 years old. A Casanova who doesn’t brag about his exploits but has the confidence to love and be loved, with all it implies. Great listener, kind-hearted, humorous.

Camiye (Female)

• Character Age: 26
• Character Race: Human.
• Demeanor: Stern, Strict, Noble.
• Keywords: Cold, Responsible, Dedicated, Insecure.
• Build: Lean.
• Personality: Strong sense of duty and an acute awareness of the expectations placed upon her. She is deeply concerned with maintaining a favorable image and is highly conscious of how others perceive her. She compensates her timidity and lack of confidence with a cold demeanor and a high chin. Despite her initial apprehensions, she demonstrates resilience and determination in the face of adversity, honing her negotiating skills, emulating her mother’s wisdom. However, beneath her composed exterior lies a vulnerability, stemming from her fear of disappointing those who look up to her.

Jeramd (Male)

• Character age: 28
• Character Race: Human.
• Demeanor: Discreet, reserved, cautious.
• Keywords: Emo, immature, defensive, whiny.
• Build: Weak.
• Personality: Misunderstood and angsty, Jeramd is a sensitive and caring young man, but through his experiences of survival, of being taken, adopted, adored and then rejected he’s come to prefer the stability of nature to the whims of the human heart. Jeramd is in search of his own identity, he questions his existence as a tool for other’s power through the fear that he inspires.

Menan (Female) 

• Character age: 35
• Character Race: Rekkon.
• Demeanor: That of a builder, confident, strong, calm and determined.
• Keywords: Gruff, intimidating, hard-working, creative.
• Build: Very tall, strong, heavy.
• Personality: Menan is a formidable figure, gruff and hard-working, her intimidating presence commands respect. Years of adversity have forged her relentless determination, driving her to excel in her craft with unmatched creativity. Despite her stern exterior, she harbors a deep sense of loyalty and commitment to those she cares about. Menan’s practical approach to problem-solving and her ability to envision and construct grand structures reflect her innovative mind. Beneath her tough demeanor lies a profound resilience, shaped by her desire to overcome obstacles and protect the vulnerable, making her a mighty ally and a dedicated friend.

Wungpo (Non-binary)

• Character age: 35
• Character Race: Tokebi.
• Demeanor: Clumsy, cute, excited.
• Keywords: Optimistic, bubbly, extroverted, goofy.
• Build: Bulky.
• Personality: Wungpo is characterised by zier love for everything. Zee is a very cheerful, charming and kind character who sees the world in a positive light. Zee is also notable for zier clumsiness, dropping things unintentionally, forgetting to tidy zier few belongings, and walking around with sorghum powder around zier mouth. Like zier favourite beetle Ninnie, Wungpo doesn’t not overthink things. Zier have a very transparent, natural and genuine approach of life that applies to every person zier meet or every problem zier are presented with.

The descriptions mention races found in the novel and seem to reference existing characters, although it’s unclear who they are due to the use of placeholder names.

Considering that they are still in the casting phase, it seems we will have to wait a bit longer to see more of this game. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that it will meet its projected release year, but we will have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for more updates as Krafton Montreal unveils further details about this upcoming title.

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