From Far Cry to a 'Korean Witcher' — Why a Former Ubisoft Veteran is Bringing a Little-Known Fantasy Series to the West

After dedicating 15 years to Ubisoft, where he contributed to titles like Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Rainbow Six, seasoned developer Patrik Méthé was ready for a new challenge. Three years later, Sony's recent State of Play event showcased the result: a trailer for a major open-world action RPG featuring a formidable bird warrior.

This project, known as Project Windless, is set in the universe of the popular Korean novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears—a franchise that remains largely unfamiliar to Western audiences. Méthé shared with IGN that the response to the game's reveal trailer was largely positive, though it sparked some humorous remarks about its protagonist, who resembles a large, humanoid chicken.

Beyond that initial surprise, however, the game and its world appear captivating. The protagonist's uniqueness was a key factor in Méthé's decision to focus the game on this hero, and it's part of what drew him to the project overall.

"You're playing as the rise of a mythical character mentioned in The Bird That Drinks Tears novels, but he's absent from them because the game is set over 1,000 years earlier," Méthé explained, emphasizing that the game serves as an entry point into the fantasy franchise. "You're essentially experiencing the foundation of this universe. Whether you've read the novels or not won't affect your immersion or understanding of the game."

Project Windless marks the debut project for Méthé's Krafton Montreal studio, which was established specifically to develop this game and now employs 90 people. An additional 40 developers are supporting the effort from a studio near Seoul.

Méthé recalled how his involvement began shortly after leaving Ubisoft: "I was getting various LinkedIn messages and came across one from a company called Krafton. I had no idea who they were and almost ignored it, but then I saw 'the creator of PUBG.' That caught my attention."

Upon further research, Méthé discovered an old article describing Krafton's ambition to create a "Korean Witcher." While this phrase wasn't part of the official project pitch he later received, it certainly sparked his curiosity.

"Krafton's question was straightforward," Méthé said. "They told me, 'We have this incredible IP that's beloved in South Korea, and you have experience with AAA single-player games. How would you introduce it to the Western market?' I responded that anyone who could answer that immediately wasn't being serious. A project like this requires input from many experts, so I asked for time to consult with them and provide a thoughtful response."

Krafton agreed, and after initial talks about adapting the first novel directly, Méthé realized that setting the game centuries earlier offered more creative freedom to craft a story better suited for a video game, rather than rigidly translating the books.

"Having the novels is a huge advantage for us as developers," Méthé noted. "They answer many questions that typically consume a lot of resources and time. With those foundations in place, we can add layers of depth to the stories and motivations of each race."

The journey hasn't been without its challenges. Méthé admitted he underestimated how demanding it would be to define Project Windless while simultaneously building a studio, securing a location, hiring staff, and navigating the company's ecosystem. "We knew it would be a significant challenge, and it is. But it's never boring, to put it mildly," he added.

For Méthé, this project represents a refreshing departure after over 15 years working on Ubisoft shooters like Splinter Cell Conviction, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn, and Rainbow Six Extraction, all of which he directed.

"It's very refreshing," he said. "We're not making a shooter at all. In previous projects, we often followed established patterns that worked. This time, it's the opposite—we don't have a clear benchmark to follow, so we're creating our own vision."

Much about the game remains under wraps. Beyond the trailer, there's still plenty to reveal and work to do to convince players that this franchise can stand alongside other open-world action RPG giants. Nevertheless, Méthé is confident in his team's progress.

"What I loved most about the reactions was the pattern: people would start the trailer thinking, 'Okay, interesting,' then react with surprise, and finally say, 'I'm in,' without hesitation. That's exactly what we aimed for," Méthé shared. "This is just our first communication, and there will be more to clarify what makes the game unique. For now, we're celebrating this moment, and when the time is right, we'll share more details."