The new project from the publisher of PUBG promises a dark open world, massive armies, and high-end graphics. But the internet only has eyes for the protagonist. That’s because he’s a two-meter-tall rooster.
Krafton unveiled “Project Windless” for the first time at PlayStation State of Play on February 12, 2026: a single-player open-world action RPG from the publisher’s Montréal studio, based on the Korean fantasy novel series “The Legend of the Tear Bird.”
The reveal trailer focuses on epic battles, stylish Unreal Engine 5 graphics – and a hero whose design immediately became a meme on the internet.
A real war in a torn world
Let’s leave the feathered hero aside for a moment and take a look at the game itself: “Project Windless” is based on the Korean high fantasy saga “The Legend of the Tear Bird” by Lee Youngdo – a complex epic about politics, racism, and war.
The trailer hints at a massive conflict triggered by the murder of an envoy. The world is torn apart, and your task is – quite classically – to unite the lands and found a new kingdom.
The protagonist belongs to the Rekon – a people who look like combat-ready, humanoid roosters. In the trailer, the Rekon warrior whirls through enemy masses with various weapons: a one-handed sword, double blades, and a long lance are among the options shown.
In terms of gameplay, Krafton is clearly taking its cue from some big names: As soon as the action starts, the screen fills with a number of enemies that we otherwise only know from Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors series. You mow down dozens of foot soldiers at once, plus there are boss fights where you have to do more than just hammer the buttons.
Black Myth: Wucock
Let’s get back to the elephant in the room – or rather, the poultry. The protagonist is a chicken-like rooster. In the book, the Rekon are feared warriors with a deep culture and their own belief systems.
The problem: While the developers probably wanted to present a proud, fearsome warrior, the reactions of Western fans were riddled with jokes about “Angry Birds in 4K,” “Kentucky Fried Combat,” or “The Rooster from Family Guy: The Game.” Krafton now faces the difficult task of defending the seriousness of the actually very profound book template against the meme culture of the internet. If the gameplay and story are right, however, the jokers’ laughter could quickly stick in their throats. The game will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, but no release date has been announced yet. What do you think? Can you take a chicken warrior seriously in a serious setting, or does the design immediately destroy the atmosphere for you? Discuss it with us in the comments!
