Where Winds Meet lead designer on bringing “a truly immersive Wuxia experience” to the west

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MMOs have long been a major player in the Chinese games industry.

Games like Dungeon Fighter Online, Fantasy Westward Journey, and Zhengtu Online have become incredibly popular, attracting hundreds of millions of players. However, many Western gamers may not recognize these titles.

After the huge popularity of Black Myth: Wukong in 2024, which brought attention to Chinese game development, many more studios are now aiming to achieve similar success.

One example is Everstone Studio in Hangzhou, the creators of the game Where Winds Meet. It released in China last year and will soon be available in western markets.

Before the game comes out, we spoke with Chris Lyu, the lead designer of Where Winds Meet, to discuss its release.

People are discussing whether Where Winds Meet is truly an MMO. What are your thoughts on how it should be categorized?

Where Winds Meet is an open-world role-playing game inspired by Wuxia culture. We designed it to fully immerse players in the world of martial arts, allowing them to create their own unique adventure.

We designed Where Winds Meet to be enjoyed both on your own and with others. Focusing solely on single-player or multiplayer would leave out a key part of the experience. That’s why the game features two separate modes – single-player and multiplayer – that you can easily switch between as you like.

Where Winds Meet offers a complete single-player experience with a rich, story-focused adventure. When playing with others, you can team up, battle, or simply explore its expansive world together.

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It’s been 10 months since Where Winds Meet launched in China. What do players there think of the game so far?

Players in China have really enjoyed Where Winds Meet since its release. We set out to reimagine the classic Wuxia style – a beloved part of Chinese culture – and we’re thrilled that our vision connected with so many people. That connection with our community is the most rewarding part of being developers.

Players have really connected with our idea that a ‘Wuxia hero’ doesn’t have to be a martial arts expert. Often, these heroes are just regular people who aren’t skilled fighters.

Players have consistently praised the game’s incredibly immersive experience, with many calling it the most authentic Wuxia game available. The combination of compelling storytelling, beautiful art, evocative music, and a richly detailed world has created what players describe as their perfect Wuxia fantasy.

Are there any differences between creating a game for a Chinese audience versus a Western audience?

When Where Winds Meet launches worldwide, players will experience the same story and gameplay as those in China. We want to share a unique and captivating world inspired by Eastern culture with players around the globe.

We aim to create a fresh and surprising experience, even though some of the game’s ideas might feel familiar or resonate with many players. Our main goal is to offer something new and exciting.

We’re dedicated to creating content that players truly enjoy. For instance, features like Qinggong and our combat system, inspired by Tai Chi, are built to be engaging, feel great to use, and offer surprising and delightful moments for players.

We’ve made a few changes to make the game enjoyable for players worldwide. For example, we’ve replaced the traditional Chinese time system, “Shíchen,” with the more familiar Zodiac animals. We’ve also created special events and content tailored to different regions, so players everywhere can easily connect with the game.

Stephen Tung joined the project to handle the fight choreography. What was it like collaborating with someone so renowned in martial arts films?

To build a truly romantic and authentic world of martial heroes, we’ve brought in Stephen Tung Wai, a famous Hong Kong-based martial arts choreographer and film director, to create the game’s action sequences, ensuring they stay true to the spirit of martial arts.

Stephen Tung Wai contributed to designing the fighting styles and weapons used in the game, including the Mo Blade, spears, fans, umbrellas, and rope darts, during the development process.

Unlike the over-the-top fighting styles often found in classic Wuxia games, the combat in Where Winds Meet, designed by Stephen Tung Wai, will focus on realistic and believable movements.

The martial arts in Where Winds Meet are performed by real actors, not created with animation. Every fight scene was carefully practiced and refined by professional martial artists and a dedicated wirework team led by Stephen Tung Wai. To make the action feel authentic, the actors actually performed the fights against each other on set, simulating real combat.

Even when a character performs an action solo, martial arts films usually need at least two performers to convincingly portray conflict. Luckily, with Stephen Tung Wai’s direction, we’ve successfully blended the style of Where Winds Meet with action cinema, creating a unique adaptation of Wuxia games for the screen.

Working with Stephen Tung Wai is truly enjoyable because he brings in skilled professionals who excel at their jobs.

Black Myth: Wukong has been a huge success in the West, raising the profile of Chinese game development. Has this created new possibilities for studios like Everstone, and does it also come with increased expectations?

As a gamer, I’m really excited to see more awesome Chinese games getting popular worldwide! I’m hoping ‘Where Winds Meet’ will be the next big hit and that players everywhere will enjoy it as much as I think they will.

Games are often called the ‘ninth art form.’ We think a well-made game can bring people together from all over the world, regardless of their culture or where they come from.

Developers worldwide constantly connect, share knowledge, and inspire each other. For instance, the team behind Where Winds Meet has regularly showcased their work at major gaming events like Gamescom, the Tokyo Game Show, and the Brazil Game Show, allowing them to connect with talented developers and journalists in the industry.

When I’m really into a game, especially one that lets me be creative, it feels like all sorts of amazing ideas from different players just come crashing together. It’s like everyone’s unique style and passion is mixing and making something totally new – it’s awesome!

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2025-11-06 13:09