Experience an epic story, take part in fast-paced martial arts battles, experience different occupations with their own quests, and explore a massive game world that is both beautiful to behold and filled with secrets waiting to be discovered.

Where Winds Meet takes place during the twilight of the Ten Kingdoms - the era in Chinese history when an entire dynasty could crumble in a blink of an eye. The melody of “The Beautiful Lady Yu” heralded the end of the road for the last emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Li Yu ruled the world as the emperor but was better known as the Immortal King of Poetry. It was his love for poetry, not power, that eventually lost him the war and saw him become a prisoner of Song. During the three years of incarceration, Li yearned for his country and lover incessantly. After realizing his fate lay in a cup of poisoned wine, he turned those longings into the masterpiece called “The Beautiful Lady Yu”.

Where Winds Meet is set during the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty, during an era of war and conflict. The player takes on the role of a wandering swordsman, who grew up during this brutal age, and used their martial arts and sword fighting skills to survive against countless foes. The player is thrust into this ruthless world, and they must choose between upholding their code of morals, in order to protect the innocent and fight for justice or live only for themselves and risk the land slipping further into chaos and despair.

In Where Winds Meet, the swordsman is a master of the blade. The combat involves fast-paced Wuxia-style battles, where the player can counter enemy blows, use Tai Chi to reflect their attacks, or use acrobatics to slip through their guard and strike them from all angles. The player also has access to a number of martial arts skills and ranged weapons, allowing them to break free from one fighting style and use a mixture of abilities to defeat their enemies, creating their own approach to combat. The world of Where Winds Meet is also home to different wild animals and supernatural creatures, who will require their own unique approach in battle. The swordsman’s martial arts skills can also be used to explore the beautiful world of Where Winds Meet, allowing them to scale walls, leap across rooftops, and sprint across the waves. The player also has their trusty steed, which will swiftly carry him across the gorgeous landscape.

Everstone Studio today announced that its open-world Wuxia ARPG, Where Winds Meet, will officially unlock the gates to the highly anticipated second expansion "Imperial Palace" on May 28 (UTC). Players will have the opportunity to pierce the golden veil of the forbidden royal court and confront a web of conspiracies that threaten to shatter the Jianghu. This expansion sets the stage for a summer filled with high-stakes campaigns, formidable world bosses, and thrilling multiplayer trials, marking the grand reveal of a long-buried royal narrative where every choice carries a heavy cost.

Where Winds Meet is an immersive open-world Wuxia ARPG that lets players forge their own legend in 10th-century China, battling with distinctive martial arts and unique weapons across a breathtaking, seamless landscape in rich solo, co-op, and PvP adventures.

A Living Palace of Intrigue 

Built upon authentic historical inspirations, the Kaifeng Imperial Palace is a sprawling imperial complex spanning over one million square meters. From grand ceremonial halls to hidden corners shrouded in secrecy, more than 3,000 dynamic NPCs create a living, ever-changing palace ecosystem.

Players can experience distinctly different lives across three main areas: the Front Court, Inner Quarters, and Central Bureaus. In addition, rumors speak of a mysterious newly established treasury built by the emperor, waiting for bold wanderers to discover its secrets.

Entering the palace under the pretense of an investigation, wanderers will unexpectedly join the Office of Martial and Virtue - the court's elite intelligence agency. Acting as undercover agents, players will take on daily duty assignments while gradually untangling the hidden truths buried beneath the center of power.

Royal Pastimes and Immersive Oddities 

Beneath the rigid order of the Imperial Palace lies a vibrant ecosystem of everyday culture. Players can take part in traditional activities such as Cricket Fighting, seasonal Ice Frolicking, and an extensive exploration system.

The palace is full of interactive oddities: players can attempt high-stakes jailbreaks from the Imperial Prison, sneak a taste of the royal meal, or stumble upon hidden martial arts masters. Daring wanderers can even attempt to sit on the Dragon Throne - though such ambition may come with unexpected costs.

Finally, the themed Dragon Boat Festival event will launch in June. Players can immerse themselves in traditional customs, handcraft gifts for Jianghu companions, and practice traditional Five Elements exercises for rich rewards.

Deadly Campaigns and Danger within the Palace Grounds

As the palace map unfolds, new dangers emerge. Launching on May 28 alongside the expansion, the Sealed Treasury campaign invites players to follow an anonymous letter into a heavily guarded royal vault, revealing secrets deeply tied to the dynasty's power structure. Later in June, the Confinement Tower campaign will open within the palace's underground prison. Here, players will encounter a familiar stranger in a brutal illusion born of hatred, culminating in a fierce battle against the furious boss.

Brave wanderers will also face formidable new World Bosses within the palace grounds: the Gilded Lament, born from the lingering tragedy of the Cold Palace, and the Cat Emperor, an eerie transformation of a once-auspicious imperial feline.

In addition, two brand-new multiplayer campaigns will be unlocked after the update, offering players the chance to confront the unpredictable attack patterns of the mythical beast Everdeer and engage in a moonlight battle of speed and strategy against Moongazing. 

The gates of Kaifeng are unfolding, and the deepest secrets of the empire await. Prepare your blades, and step into the majestic shadows of the Imperial Palace on May 28th!

Combat is an important part of Where Winds Meet, but there is far more to the game that just trading blows with enemies. The player can have their version of the swordsman take on different roles in the game world, such as becoming a doctor who saves lives, or becoming a merchant earning as much gold as possible. Where Winds Meet also has an expansive free-construction system, with over 600 authentic components that allow the player to build structures in the world and make it their own. The player can also choose to live freely and eschew these side-activities, in order to pursue the main story and face the most dangerous enemies in the realm.

Where Winds Meet offers an immersive open-world sandbox experience that has never been seen before, as the player chooses their own path to their destiny against the backdrop of ancient China. This is a tale of bloodshed, struggle, and sacrifice, but there is also hope, as the player can become the one who can bring about change in society. Where Winds Meet is all about giving players the freedom to tell their own story within its beautiful game world.

Key Features:

• Freely explore a vibrant ancient Chinese capital city: Unlike Qinghe’s rolling hills and open wilderness, Kaifeng is a bustling capital. With over one million square meters to discover, players are free to roam the city and experience its lively atmosphere at their own pace.
• Immersive story exploration: Where Winds Meet weaves its grand narrative through a scattered storytelling approach, fully integrated into its expansive world. In Kaifeng, players will experience sharp contrasts—from the luxury of Fanlou Golden Street to struggling slums, from grand palaces to the mysterious ghost market. Each area offers its own stories to uncover, whether through the main quest or by exploring off the beaten path.
• Experience thrilling and stylish combat: As they explore, players meet legendary figures, uncover heroic tales, and settle old rivalries through intense battles. Players can customize their characters and master a unique eastern combat system, unlocking and upgrading a wide variety of weapons and skills inspired by Wuxia martial arts.
• Explore Lively City Life: In Where Winds Meet, players can experience the vibrant bustle of ancient Kaifeng, with over 10,000 NPCs inhabiting the city. NPCs can be friends, pickpocket targets, brawling opponents, witnesses to crimes, or the starting point for new adventures. Some may even entrust players with the key to their destiny, leading to entirely different endings.
• Engage in authentic ancient pastimes: Players can enjoy a range of classic Chinese activities—explore lively city streets, relax at bathhouses, watch traditional opera, and more. There are plenty of ways to experience the charm of everyday life.
• Shape the world with actions: The City changes in response to player choices. Abandoned wheat fields may flourish again, and rundown streets can become lively neighborhoods, all depending on how players interact with the world.

Where Winds Meet is available for Android, iOS, PS5 and PC (Steam).