{"id":68447,"date":"2026-06-19T14:55:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=68447"},"modified":"2026-06-19T14:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:58:24","slug":"anime-open-world-rpg-dragonsword-awakening-announced-for-july-23-reborn-as-a-buy-to-play-title-amidst-ongoing-legal-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/anime-open-world-rpg-dragonsword-awakening-announced-for-july-23-reborn-as-a-buy-to-play-title-amidst-ongoing-legal-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Anime\u00a0open-world\u00a0RPG\u00a0DragonSword: Awakening announced for July 23, reborn\u00a0as a\u00a0buy-to-play title\u00a0amidst\u00a0ongoing\u00a0legal battle\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DragonSword: Awakening<\/strong>, a reboot of the South Korean\u00a0mobile\u00a0gacha\u00a0game\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.webzen.dragonsword.google\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DragonSword<\/a> by Hound13, will\u00a0release as\u00a0a\u00a0redesigned,\u00a0buy-to-play\u00a0title priced at\u00a0$29.99 USD\u00a0on July 23.\u00a0While DLC cosmetics and\u00a0Familiars can be\u00a0purchased,\u00a0the game\u00a0eliminates\u00a0the live-service format and gacha\u00a0mechanics in favor of rewards that can be earned through gameplay.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Steam Next Fest Trailer \u2014 DragonSword : Awakening\" width=\"1160\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PetI2TFvfw4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DragonSword: Awakening is an&nbsp;anime-style, tag-team action RPG set in the&nbsp;Continent of Orbis.&nbsp;The story follows Lute, a young boy who finds himself&nbsp;joining&nbsp;a band of mercenaries. When a legendary Dragon appears after 60 years and threatens&nbsp;the land,&nbsp;Lute and company&nbsp;set out to trace the steps of the heroes who&nbsp;defeated&nbsp;it long ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similar to&nbsp;games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves,&nbsp;DragonSword: Awakening has you exploring a vast fantasy world&nbsp;either alone or&nbsp;with friends via&nbsp;online co-op.&nbsp;You\u2019ll&nbsp;interact with NPCs,&nbsp;complete quests,&nbsp;collect crafting ingredients, and beat up foes that get in your way.&nbsp;Combat involves switching between multiple&nbsp;characters&nbsp;and using their abilities to your advantage.&nbsp;While most of your party members are humanoid, collectible animals called Familiars will also help you&nbsp;on your journey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260618-450576-001-1080x608-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260618-450576-001-1080x608-1.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260618-450576-001-1080x608-1-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260618-450576-001-1080x608-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1531\" height=\"762\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1531px) 100vw, 1531px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260619-68447-001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260619-68447-001.jpg 1531w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260619-68447-001-380x189.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260619-68447-001-768x382.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DragonSword: Awakening\u2019s existence is paved with\u00a0controversy and litigation.\u00a0One\u00a0month after\u00a0the original\u00a0DragonSword\u2019s\u00a0South Korean\u00a0release\u00a0in\u00a0January 2026,\u00a0developer\u00a0Hound13 announced the <a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/korean-publisher-webzen-sues-open-world-rpg-developer-after-it-one-sidedly-terminates-publishing-deal-and-announces-independent-steam-re-release-over-unpaid-guarantee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">termination of its contract<\/a> with publisher\u00a0Webzen,\u00a0citing unpaid fees.\u00a0Webzen\u00a0posted\u00a0its\u00a0own statement\u00a0that same day,\u00a0stating\u00a0that the termination did not\u00a0meet legal requirements and was therefore\u00a0null and void.\u00a0Amidst the ongoing\u00a0conflict,\u00a0Webzen\u00a0suspended\u00a0DragonSword\u2019s\u00a0payment functions and processed\u00a0refunds for in-game purchases to &#8220;protect consumer rights.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hound13\u00a0then\u00a0announced\u00a0DragonSword: Awakening in April\u00a0as a\u00a0buy-to-play\u00a0reboot developed and published\u00a0in-house,\u00a0which prompted\u00a0Wazen\u00a0to\u00a0file\u00a0a\u00a0lawsuit\u00a0against its former collaborator, requesting an injunction of the new game.\u00a0Although there\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0been any updates since the lawsuit\u2019s\u00a0initial\u00a0announcement, Awakening\u00a0seems to be\u00a0heading for release without issue for the time being.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DragonSword: Awakening is set to release on July 23 for Windows (<a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/4570720\/DragonSword__Awakening\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steam<\/a>). A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/4575730\/DragonSword__Awakening_Demo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free demo<\/a>&nbsp;is also available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DragonSword: Awakening&#8217;s release has been announced for July 23 via PC (Steam).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":68451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-68447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-global-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - 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