When the winds of freedom blow
Many role-playing game fans have just fought their last battles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows or Ghost of Yōtei, and now the next highlight in an Asian setting is already being announced. But this time, there’s a different wind blowing – a free one. Chinese development studio Everstone is bringing Where Winds Meet, an open-world role-playing game for PlayStation 5 and PC, that aims to offer everything that distinguishes its big-name counterparts in the genre – just without the price tag.
It’s set to launch on November 14. Players will then be able to immerse themselves in historic 10th-century China, a world of mist, bamboo forests, and ancient empires. And even though the PlayStation Store currently lists a price of €17.99, the title is officially free-to-play. The costs shown are merely pre-order bonuses such as cosmetic items or some virtual currency. Those who can do without these will still get the full adventure – for free.
“Like Assassin’s Creed – only freer, bigger, harder?”
In Where Winds Meet, players take on the role of a young swordsman who must find his place in a world marked by intrigue and war. Instead of linear missions, the path leads through 20 freely explorable regions – from bustling cities to enchanted temples to wild mountain ranges. The combat system is deeply rooted in Asian martial arts cinema and combines acrobatic sword fighting with mystical abilities.
According to the developers, there are over 150 hours of solo gameplay, complemented by a seamless co-op mode for up to four players. The game is designed to appeal to both solo players and group adventurers – and there’s no paywall.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether Everstone will deliver more than just beautiful trailers with “Where Winds Meet.” Free-to-play games are often suspected of slowing down their players with microtransactions. But those who give the game a chance may be in for a surprise: an ambitious role-playing game that aims to compete visually with “Ghost of Tsushima” – and at the same time opens a whole new chapter for Chinese developers on the world stage.
So when the wind blows across PlayStation 5 and Steam on November 14, it could be more than just a gentle breeze. Perhaps the next great adventure will begin here – and it will be completely free.
