Hound 13 unveiled a new design today (the 30th) for Lute, the protagonist of its upcoming Steam-relaunch title, the open-world action RPG ‘Dragon Sword: Awakening.’
‘Dragon Sword: Awakening’ is a title previously released through Webzen that is being transitioned to self-publishing and re-released on Steam. Beyond the changes in publishing and platform, ‘Dragon Sword: Awakening’ has signaled significant updates in many other areas. With the shift to a single-player package game model, the monetization strategy has also changed. Unlike the original ‘Dragon Sword,’ which was a free-to-play (F2P) game featuring a gacha system for character acquisition, ‘Dragon Sword: Awakening’ has been redesigned so that both characters and equipment can be obtained through in-game play.
Amid these changes, the refined design of the protagonist, Lute, has drawn significant attention. The core design remains largely consistent with the original; the prominent scar on his left cheek, white outfit, and green muffler are all present. However, while retaining these signature features, Lute now appears more mature. Whereas the original ‘Dragon Sword’ depicted him as a youth, the ‘Dragon Sword: Awakening’ version presents him as a young adult.
The reveal of the refined Lute has been met with generally positive feedback from the community. Most players have expressed satisfaction with the change and are now anticipating whether other main characters, such as Johnny, will also receive design updates.
‘Dragon Sword: Awakening’ is scheduled for an official release on Steam this July. Moving away from F2P or MMORPG models, it will be a single-player package game with monetization focused on character costumes and familiars (mounts). The developers have also indicated plans for long-term support, including the sale of expansion packs that will feature new characters and worlds.
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