DragonSword: Awakening Launches July 23 After Major Overhaul and Legal Battle

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DragonSword: Awakening launches July 23 on Steam after a major overhaul and legal dispute. Learn what changed and why the PC version exists at all.

What began as a South Korean mobile gacha RPG is now reemerging as a premium PC action RPG, and the story behind this transformation is as dramatic as the game itself. DragonSword: Awakening, developed by Hound13, will launch on Steam on July 23, marking a complete overhaul of the original DragonSword, which debuted in South Korea in January 2026 as a free to play gacha title.

Table of Contents

What Is DragonSword Awakening

DragonSword: Awakening is a reimagined, standalone PC action RPG set on the continent of Orbis. Unlike the original mobile version, this edition removes all gacha systems and replaces them with direct gameplay progression.

Players can expect:

  • Real time combat with character switching
  • A focus on skill based progression
  • Optional cosmetic DLC
  • Collectible creatures called Familiars, obtainable without gacha mechanics

The game is positioned as a premium, one time purchase experience.

When Is DragonSword Awakening Releasing

The game launches on:

  • Steam: July 23, 2026

A free demo is already available on the platform.

How Is the PC Version Different From the Mobile Game

The PC version removes the free to play structure entirely.

Major changes include:

  • No gacha mechanics
  • No paid probability based rewards
  • All progression earned through gameplay
  • Optional cosmetic DLC
  • Familiars available without gambling systems

This redesign aims to rebuild trust after the mobile version’s troubled launch.

What Is the Story of DragonSword Awakening

The narrative follows Lute, a young man who joins a mercenary group as the continent faces a new crisis. A legendary Dragon returns after sixty years, threatening the fragile peace of Orbis.

Lute and his allies must:

  • Track the footsteps of past heroes
  • Uncover the Dragon’s reappearance
  • Explore Orbis in solo or online co op
  • Master multiple characters through real time switching

The gameplay structure will feel familiar to fans of Genshin Impact or Wuthering Waves, but with a more traditional action RPG progression model.

What Happened Between Hound13 and Webzen

The game’s development nearly collapsed due to a high profile dispute between developer Hound13 and publisher Webzen.

The timeline:

  • January 2026: DragonSword launches in South Korea
  • February 2026: Hound13 terminates its publishing contract
  • Hound13 claims Webzen failed to pay 60 percent of the agreed minimum guarantee
  • Webzen denies wrongdoing and calls the termination invalid
  • Webzen suspends in game payments and issues refunds
  • Webzen later pays the outstanding amount on February 27, but Hound13 says the damage is done

The conflict escalated quickly and publicly.

In April 2026, Hound13 announced DragonSword: Awakening as an independent PC release. Webzen responded by filing a lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court, seeking an injunction to block the Steam launch.

Webzen argued:

  • Publishing rights still belonged to them
  • A Steam release could cause consumer confusion
  • The re release was unauthorized

Hound13 countered that:

  • The termination on February 13 was legal
  • Webzen’s position was unilateral
  • The court would determine the final outcome
  • Development and Steam preparations would continue

The dispute is ongoing.

Is the Steam Release Still Moving Forward

Yes. Despite the legal battle:

  • The July 23 release date is confirmed
  • The free demo is live on Steam
  • No injunction has been announced
  • Hound13 is promoting the game without interruption

Players who purchase the game by August 31 will receive the Abyssal Direwolf Familiar for free. After that date, it becomes a paid item. There is no pre order option.

The situation is further complicated by Webzen’s 25.64 percent ownership stake in Hound13, acquired through a 30 billion won investment in 2024. The legal dispute is far from resolved, but the game’s release appears secure for now.

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