DragonSword: Awakening, a reboot of the South Korean mobile gacha game DragonSword by Hound13, will release as a redesigned, buy-to-play title priced at $29.99 USD on July 23. While DLC cosmetics and Familiars can be purchased, the game eliminates the live-service format and gacha mechanics in favor of rewards that can be earned through gameplay.
DragonSword: Awakening is an anime-style, tag-team action RPG set in the Continent of Orbis. The story follows Lute, a young boy who finds himself joining a band of mercenaries. When a legendary Dragon appears after 60 years and threatens the land, Lute and company set out to trace the steps of the heroes who defeated it long ago.
Similar to games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves, DragonSword: Awakening has you exploring a vast fantasy world either alone or with friends via online co-op. You’ll interact with NPCs, complete quests, collect crafting ingredients, and beat up foes that get in your way. Combat involves switching between multiple characters and using their abilities to your advantage. While most of your party members are humanoid, collectible animals called Familiars will also help you on your journey.
DragonSword: Awakening’s existence is paved with controversy and litigation. One month after the original DragonSword’s South Korean release in January 2026, developer Hound13 announced the termination of its contract with publisher Webzen, citing unpaid fees. Webzen posted its own statement that same day, stating that the termination did not meet legal requirements and was therefore null and void. Amidst the ongoing conflict, Webzen suspended DragonSword’s payment functions and processed refunds for in-game purchases to “protect consumer rights.”
Hound13 then announced DragonSword: Awakening in April as a buy-to-play reboot developed and published in-house, which prompted Wazen to file a lawsuit against its former collaborator, requesting an injunction of the new game. Although there haven’t been any updates since the lawsuit’s initial announcement, Awakening seems to be heading for release without issue for the time being.
DragonSword: Awakening is set to release on July 23 for Windows (Steam). A free demo is also available.
