Project Windless Dev Explains the Game’s Giant Rooster-Man Protagonist

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Project Windless was a standout announcement from Sony’s recent State of Play event, largely due to its unusual main character: a large, human-shaped rooster.

“We knew that the hero would create a shock,” creative director Patrik Méthé tells PC Gamer.

Honestly, I was really surprised how many people were totally confused at the start of the trailer – like, a genuine “what was that?!” reaction. But then, almost instantly, they were hooked! It was crazy seeing them go from puzzled to pumped before even three-quarters of the trailer had finished playing.

It seems the developers got the reaction they wanted! The team at Krafton Montreal took a big risk with this project, and it definitely worked.

So, what led the studio to create a character who is a large, chicken-like humanoid? According to Méthé, during the game’s early hiring stages, they would present potential employees with concept art showcasing the four races featured in The Bird That Drinks Tears – the Korean fantasy story that Project Windless is based on.

The world features four playable races: humans, the tokkebi (who resemble goblins), the reptilian nhaga, and the bird-like rekon. According to Méthé, players were especially enthusiastic about the rekon right from the start.

Méthé remembers that after each audition, every candidate would express their strong desire to play the role, saying something like, ‘I hope you’ll call me, but more importantly, I really want to be able to play this character.’ It was the same thing from everyone – and the casting team just thought, ‘Okay, we get it!’

Okay, so the team finally figured out what the game’s all about. You play as the Hero King, and get this – he’s basically a legendary figure from way before the story we already know. He’s like a myth come to life!

Though he’s still remembered, everyone who actually knew him has passed away. This gives us creative freedom, as rigidly following the novel would have hurt the game, according to Méthé.

Méthé explained more about the Hero King’s appearance, saying he’s designed to be different from typical RPG characters. He won’t be just a large, imposing man – he’s part of a unique race with special abilities and traits not found in humans. It’s not about a costume or outfit; it’s about the inherent qualities of his race.

This is clear in the recent trailer, which shows the main character, a bird, easily defeating large groups of enemies.

We’re really happy to see a video game character who immediately stands out as interesting and original. First impressions are incredibly important in gaming, and Project Windless makes a fantastic one.

What are you hoping to see come from Project Windless? And what’s your opinion of the Hero King? Please be respectful in the comments!

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2026-02-26 22:07