Dragon Sword: Awakening missed its Steam launch on July 23, 2026. Developer Hound 13 announced the delay just one hour before the scheduled release time of 7:00 AM KST, citing a pending app review approval from Steam that had not yet cleared. The delay was not anticipated by the studio, and as of July 23, no new release date has been confirmed.
The announcement came from Producer Jang Yoon-jin, who issued a public apology to players who had been waiting for the PC global launch. The launch of Hound 13's open world action RPG has been delayed. Hound 13 had originally announced a release time of 7:00 AM KST on July 23. However, at 6:00 AM, the company announced that it would be unable to release the game as scheduled because the app review process on Steam had not yet been completed. Producer Jang Yoon-jin offered a sincere apology to those who had been waiting for the game, stating "I sincerely apologize for not being able to present the game on the scheduled date."
What Caused the Delay
The reason is administrative rather than technical. Hound 13 submitted all required review items to Steam on July 15 in preparation for the July 23 launch. The Steam review process did not complete in time.
A representative from Hound 13 explained: "We addressed the requirements requested by Steam in consideration of the launch schedule and submitted the app for final review on the 15th, but we were unable to meet the intended release time."
Hound 13 announced on X and Steam on July 23, 2026 that the game will be delayed indefinitely. This is due to its Steam app review still currently undergoing, which the studio did not anticipate to take this long. Hound13 Producer JYJ apologized for not delivering on their promise, and promised to keep fans updated when a new launch schedule is confirmed.
The studio clarified that all required review items have been submitted and the team is waiting for final clearance from Steam. No technical problems with the game itself were reported.
The Full Dragon Sword: Awakening Timeline
Understanding why this delay lands the way it does requires the full context of what Dragon Sword: Awakening has been through in 2026.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 21, 2026 | Dragon Sword launches in South Korea on mobile and PC under Webzen |
| February 2026 | Hound 13 attempts to terminate its contract with Webzen, claiming Webzen failed to pay 60% of the agreed Minimum Guarantee |
| April 20, 2026 | Webzen files a court injunction to block Hound 13 from self-publishing on Steam |
| April 2026 | Injunction blocks Dragon Sword from joining Steam Next Fest in June |
| July 2026 | Hound 13 wins legal dispute and is cleared to self-publish on Steam |
| July 18, 2026 | Official Steam launch confirmed for July 23, 2026 at 7:00 AM KST |
| July 23, 2026, 6:00 AM KST | Hound 13 announces delay one hour before launch due to pending Steam review |
| July 23, 2026 (ongoing) | New release date to be announced when Steam review clears |
The Legal Background: Webzen vs Hound 13
The Steam delay is the latest chapter in a turbulent year for Dragon Sword's global rollout.
On April 20, 2026, publisher Webzen filed a court injunction to block developer Hound 13 from self-publishing the PC package version. The filing stopped the game from joining Steam Next Fest in June and put the July launch on hold until judges ruled on the publishing contract dispute.
The fight between Webzen and Hound 13 started soon after the game first went live on January 21, 2026. Hound 13 tried to end its deal with Webzen in February 2026. The studio claimed Webzen failed to pay 60% of the agreed Minimum Guarantee. Webzen fired back, calling the move one-sided. They stated they had already poured 30 billion won into the project through early payments and funding. To shield players, Webzen paid the missing MG funds and began offering full refunds to all users. They kept the live servers running, though only bug fixes and stability patches were going out. No major updates were planned for the current version under Webzen.
Hound 13 won the legal dispute, cleared the path to self-publish on Steam, and set July 23 as the launch date. The administrative delay from the Steam review process is an entirely separate issue from the legal dispute, which has been resolved.
What Dragon Sword: Awakening Is
For players who have not followed the game's development: Dragon Sword: Awakening is an open-world action RPG developed by Hound 13, the Korean studio behind the action RPG Hundred Soul. The game features:
- Fast-paced weapon-swapping combat as its defining mechanic
- An open world set in Orbis, a richly designed fantasy setting
- Cross-platform play between mobile and PC
- A free-to-play structure with optional in-game purchases
- Standard and Deluxe editions on Steam
The game supports cross-platform play between mobile and PC. The Korean version launched on January 21, 2026 and the Steam release was designed to bring the game to a global audience with English and additional language support.
New Korean titles Dragon Sword and Stepper Retro debuted at the top of Steam Charts ahead of launch, indicating strong pre-launch interest from the global player base.
What Comes Next
Hound 13 has committed to sharing a new release date as soon as the Steam review process concludes. The delay has no indicated end date because it is contingent on Steam completing its review, a process Hound 13 cannot control once all required materials have been submitted.
What players should do now:
- Wishlist Dragon Sword: Awakening on Steam: You will receive an automatic notification the moment a new release date is confirmed and when the game becomes available for purchase or download.
- Follow the official Dragon Sword: Awakening Steam page and X account: The studio has committed to updating players through these channels as soon as clearance arrives.
- Check the Steam page for Deluxe Edition contents: Both Standard and Deluxe editions remain listed and the pricing structure has not changed with the delay announcement.
What to Expect When Dragon Sword: Awakening Launches
The delay does not affect the game's content. Everything confirmed before July 23 remains intact:
- Open-world action RPG with weapon-swapping combat
- Cross-platform PC and mobile cross-play
- Free-to-play with Standard and Deluxe editions on Steam
- Full global launch with English language support
- All pre-order and Founder's Pack benefits carry over to the new launch date
- New release date (to be confirmed by Hound 13 once Steam review clears)
Play Dragon Sword: Awakening with a Stable Connection Using ExitLag
When Dragon Sword: Awakening launches on Steam, the first days will be the highest-traffic period the global servers will face. Cross-platform play between mobile and PC means a large simultaneous player pool hitting the servers from day one. The route your ISP takes to Hound 13's game servers is chosen for cost efficiency, not for the low-latency gaming performance an action RPG with fast weapon-swapping combat demands.
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Features that directly benefit Dragon Sword: Awakening players:
- Real-Time Optimization: Continuously selects the lowest-latency route to Dragon Sword's servers, keeping fast-paced combat inputs responsive in real time.
- Multipath Technology: Routes game data through multiple simultaneous paths. If one path drops a packet during a boss fight, the others carry that data without the loss affecting what the server registers.
- Traffic Shaper: Prioritizes Dragon Sword traffic above background applications so nothing on your PC spikes your ping during combat.
- Multi-Internet: Supports up to four simultaneous connections, eliminating disconnections from live sessions at critical moments.
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Pro Tips: Getting Ready for Dragon Sword: Awakening
- Wishlist now to get notified the instant a date is confirmed: The Steam notification arrives the moment Hound 13 publishes an updated release date. You will not miss it if the game is wishlisted.
- Do not cancel pre-orders based on this delay: The delay is administrative, not a sign of development problems or content changes. All pre-order benefits and Deluxe Edition contents remain valid for the new launch date.
- Set up ExitLag before the launch day: The server queue and connection rush on launch day is when connection optimization makes the biggest difference. Installing ExitLag before the first login means you enter the queue with an optimized route rather than debugging your connection after you are already stuck.
- Follow the official Steam announcement page: Hound 13 confirmed it will post the updated schedule to the Dragon Sword: Awakening Steam page first.
Common Questions About the Dragon Sword: Awakening Delay
- Is the delay related to the Webzen legal dispute? No. The legal dispute between Webzen and Hound 13 was resolved before July 23. Hound 13 won the right to self-publish on Steam and set the July 23 date after that resolution. The delay is a separate administrative issue: the Steam app review process did not complete before the planned launch time.
- Will pre-order bonuses and Deluxe Edition contents still apply? Yes. Hound 13 has not indicated any changes to pre-order benefits or edition contents. The delay is in the review clearance, not in the game's content or business model.
- Is there any indication of how long the Steam review will take? No specific timeline has been given. Hound 13 submitted all required materials on July 15. The studio is waiting for Steam's review team to clear the submission. The timeline is controlled entirely by Steam.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Developer | Hound 13 |
| Original Launch Date | July 23, 2026, 7:00 AM KST |
| Delay Announced | July 23, 2026, 6:00 AM KST (1 hour before launch) |
| Reason for Delay | Steam app review not yet completed |
| Materials Submitted to Steam | July 15, 2026 |
| New Release Date | To be confirmed |
| Platform | Steam (PC), Mobile |
| South Korea Launch | January 21, 2026 (live) |
| Cross-Play | Yes (PC and Mobile) |
| Business Model | Free-to-play with Standard and Deluxe editions |
Download ExitLag and be ready for Dragon Sword: Awakening's launch.
Dragon Sword: Awakening and related marks are trademarks of Hound 13. Steam and related marks are trademarks of Valve Corporation. Used for informational and educational purposes only.
