Hound13's anime-style open-world action RPG DragonSword: Awakening is launching on Steam. It unlocks the morning of July 23 in Korea (KST) and the afternoon of July 22 in the West (3PM PT / 6PM ET) — a staggered regional release. The biggest change is the business model: the game has shed its free-to-play gacha structure entirely and been rebuilt as a $29.99 buy-to-play package.
- ▶Sources: Steam store page · AUTOMATON West · RPG Site · Simulation Daily
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | DragonSword: Awakening |
| Developer/Publisher | Hound13 |
| Genre | Anime-style open-world tag action RPG |
| Platform | PC (Steam) — console under consideration, no mobile |
| Release | July 23 (KST) / July 22 (PT) |
| Price | $29.99 · buy-to-play package |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
From Gacha to Package — Why the Model Shift Matters
The most symbolic part of this relaunch is the pivot in monetization. Hound13 has rebuilt what was a free-to-play title into a pure single-player package you can play offline to the ending, no internet required. All 19 heroes included at launch are obtainable in-game at no additional cost, with global sales running through a single Steam purchase.
The price is $29.99. Stripping out gacha mechanics in favor of a flat package aligns with a market where fatigue toward probability-based monetization has been rising. The studio has framed the move as a way to "prove its sincerity" to players.
What the Game Is — The Continent of Orbis and Tag Combat
DragonSword: Awakening is an anime-style open-world action RPG set on the Continent of Orbis. Built on Unreal Engine 5, its warmly lit fantasy world draws clear visual inspiration from classic anime and Japanese RPGs. Combat centers on tagging between multiple characters to chain combos, backed by a flight-capable "Familiar" system that supports traversal across the open field.
Developer Hound13 was founded in 2014 by veterans of Dragon Nest, a team known for its strength in action choreography and combat feel. This title extends that pedigree into an open-world, single-player package.
Editions and Free DLC
Two editions ship at launch: Standard and Deluxe. The Deluxe Edition adds a digital artbook, the soundtrack, and the limited "Brave Baby Dragon" Familiar on top of the base game.
There is also a limited-time launch bonus: the Abyssal Direwolf Familiar DLC is free from July 23 through August 31, after which it becomes a paid item — a classic launch-window incentive to drive early adoption.
| Contents | Standard | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | ○ | ○ |
| Digital artbook | — | ○ |
| Soundtrack | — | ○ |
| Brave Baby Dragon Familiar | — | ○ |
| Abyssal Direwolf DLC | Free 7/23–8/31 | Free 7/23–8/31 |
Market Context — 300K Wishlists, and a Legal Battle
DragonSword: Awakening crossed 300,000 Steam wishlists ahead of launch. The gacha-to-package pivot, its anime-flavored action visuals, and an offline, self-contained structure are seen as key drivers of that interest.
It is also worth noting that this independent release is proceeding amid an ongoing legal battle — international outlets have described the game as "reborn amidst ongoing legal battle." The specifics remain live between the parties involved, so firm conclusions are premature, but the launch itself proceeding on schedule is cross-confirmed across multiple sources. Post-launch, the roadmap lists four new characters arriving in the second half of 2026.
GamePeak Takeaway
With DragonSword: Awakening, the pivot itself is the story — a Korean studio betting on a global, buy-to-play Steam package instead of gacha.
| Point | Summary |
|---|---|
| Release | July 23 (KST) / July 22 (PT), Steam |
| Price | $29.99 buy-to-play package |
| Design | Offline, self-contained; 19 heroes included |
| Incentive | Abyssal Direwolf DLC free 7/23–8/31 |
| Next | Four new characters planned for H2 2026 |
In a market weary of gacha, whether the package pivot converts wishlists into sales is the thing to watch. A console release is under consideration; there are no plans for a mobile version.