Dragon Sword Awakening Steam Release and Controversy Explained

Dragon Sword: Awakening Opens Steam Page After Major Industry Drama

Dragon Sword: Awakening, a highly anticipated action RPG from Hound13, has officially launched its Steam store page and confirmed a July 2026 release window.

But behind this announcement lies one of the most intense development stories in recent memory, involving a major dispute with publisher Webzen that nearly derailed the entire project.

The Conflict That Almost Ended It All

The situation escalated due to serious disagreements between Hound13 and Webzen, leading to allegations of aggressive corporate tactics.

According to reports, Webzen attempted a hostile takeover, pressuring Hound13 financially and pushing for new share issuance at extremely low valuations. This move would have significantly reduced the founding CEO’s ownership—from 31% down to just 1%.

At the same time, Webzen reportedly withheld payments totaling billions of won, leaving the development team struggling to sustain operations, with staff forced into unpaid leave.

A Turning Point Behind the Scenes

In a dramatic twist, Hound13’s CEO prepared to expose the situation through a well-known investigative YouTube channel.

Facing potential public backlash and scrutiny, Webzen quickly reversed course and transferred the owed funds before the interview could be released.

This moment proved critical, giving Hound13 the financial breathing room needed to regain control of the project and move forward independently.

Why the Game Is Moving to Steam

The Korean version of the game has effectively reached its end, with servers entering a maintenance state and in-game systems no longer sustainable.

With refunds issued and the live-service model discontinued, the Steam version represents a complete reset for Dragon Sword: Awakening.

A New Direction: No Gacha, Full Experience

One of the biggest changes for the Steam release is the removal of all gacha systems.

Instead, the game will adopt a buy-to-play model, focusing on delivering a full premium experience without randomized monetization. This shift signals a major change in design philosophy and a commitment to global audiences.

What to Expect Next

Hound13 has confirmed key milestones leading up to launch:

• June 2026: Playable demo during Steam Next Fest
• July 2026: Full release on Steam

The demo will allow players to test the combat system and get an early look at the game’s redesigned structure.

A Bold Comeback

The journey of Dragon Sword: Awakening is more than just a game release—it’s a story of a studio fighting to protect its vision.

By breaking away from a major publisher and rebuilding the game for a global audience, Hound13 is taking a significant risk—but also making a powerful statement about creative independence.

For players, adding the game to their Wishlist now is more than anticipation—it’s support for a team that refused to give up.