Hound 13’s open-world action RPG, ‘Dragon Sword,’ is set to relaunch on Steam this July as a package version titled ‘Dragon Sword: Awakening.’
‘Dragon Sword’ drew attention for its open world, which captures a classic fantasy aesthetic, and its unique ‘switch action’ system, which the developer has been refining since its previous title, ‘Hundred Soul.’ The game was released on January 21 following a publishing agreement with Webzen, but operations faltered after Webzen failed to pay the remaining balance of the minimum guarantee. As tensions escalated—with Hound 13 notifying Webzen of contract termination and Webzen threatening strict legal action—Hound 13 revealed through written interviews and other channels that Webzen had not only missed payments but had also demanded management rights at par value as a condition for further investment. Although Webzen deposited the ₩3 billion balance on February 27 and emphasized that the publishing contract remained valid and that service would be normalized, negotiations did not progress smoothly.
On April 3, Hound 13 announced via a phone call that it was shifting toward self-publishing, with plans for a Steam release. On the 10th, the company launched a Steam page and YouTube channel, announcing plans to showcase a demo at the Steam Next Fest in June followed by a full release in July. However, with issues still unresolved with Webzen, the transition to a single-player package game, and the need to manage a global launch, several challenges remain. Hound 13 addressed these concerns through an FAQ on its Steam page and provided further insight into the current situation in a written interview with INVEN.
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The number of playable hero characters is set to increase to 19.
Once development for World 2, located on the floating islands, is finished, our goal is to offer it as downloadable content (DLC) or an expansion pack.
Will there be a change in communication style once the Steam service launches? Do you have any plans for AMAs or developer livestreams?
“We aim to engage more directly with users through Steam, Discord, and our YouTube channel.
Our current plan is to regularly update users on the progress of development while actively listening to and incorporating user questions and feedback.
There seems to be confusion among users due to unresolved matters with Webzen. How do you plan to address this going forward?
“We have decided that continuing the current live service is challenging, so we are in talks about ending that service.
As we prepare for the launch on Steam, we hope that Webzen, a significant shareholder of Hound 13, will support our direction.
We seek cooperation and assistance to ensure that Dragon Sword receives a positive response from both existing and new users and establishes itself successfully in the Steam market.
Can you share a message with the users eagerly awaiting the relaunch?
“First and foremost, I apologize for the challenges in operating the live service smoothly.
We have determined that a Steam launch is the most feasible way to reintroduce the game under the current circumstances, and we are working tirelessly to ensure it is well-prepared despite time constraints and difficulties.
We are deeply grateful for your continued interest and support, and we are committed to delivering an improved version of the game when we meet again. Thank you.
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