NetEase's 'Where Winds Meet' Dominates Steam and Twitch Charts

The new Chinese martial arts epic, "Where Winds Meet", has officially taken the global stage by storm. The free-to-play, open-world action RPG from developer Everstone Studio and publisher NetEase Games launched worldwide on November 15 for PC (via Steam and Epic) and PlayStation 5, and it is already posting massive numbers.

The game’s launch was nothing short of explosive. It attracted over 500,000 overseas players in just 40 minutes, soaring past the two million player mark within its first 24 hours. The momentum carried it straight to the top of the charts, hitting a concurrent player count of over 193,860 on Steam. This activity secured its spots as a Top 7 Global Bestseller and a Top 5 Most Played Game on Steam, while also climbing to the Top 2 spot on Twitch during its launch.

Reception from the community has been "Very Positive" on Steam, based on nearly 9,000 user reviews. Players are praising the immersive wuxia (Chinese martial arts fantasy) setting, the fluid combat system, and a memorable, emotional storyline. A huge point of praise has been the game's commitment to a fair, non-pay-to-win model. 

While the reception is strong, some players have noted that the sheer number of in-game systems can be overwhelming, and others have pointed to minor performance issues on PS5 and some "janky" AI on certain NPCs.

An Authentic World Built on History

What makes the game’s world so compelling is its deep authenticity. Where Winds Meet is set over 1,000 years ago during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The development team travelled across China to digitally scan historical sites and faithfully restore over 1,200 cultural relics, including the famous painting "Night Revels of Han Xizai". 

This dedication brings hundreds of traditional skills to life, from swordsmanship and Tai Chi to shadow puppetry, lion dancing, and even cuju (ancient Chinese football). The game's innovative design recently won the 2025 Red Dot Design Award in Germany.

This massive global launch was built on incredible anticipation. The game had already surpassed 10 million global pre-registrations before its November 15 release. This follows its dominant debut in China back in late 2024, where it had already gathered over 15 million players since its December 2024 release. 

Days after its global release, the game is showing strong retention, holding steady between 100,000 and 176,031 concurrent players on Steam. Where Winds Meet also supports full cross-platform play and cross-progression, allowing players to move seamlessly between PC and PS5.