According to Wccftech, NetEase Games has unveiled the January 2026 roadmap for its open-world Wuxia RPG, Where Winds Meet. The headline is version 1.2, which arrives this Friday, January 9, 2026, and introduces large-scale Guild Battle preseason matches, a new story volume for Kaifeng, and a puzzle cave called Mistveil Prison. The update also adds a bizarre new mode called Elder Express, where players carry elderly characters through the streets. This follows content that already dropped on January 4, including a new Unbound Solo mode. The game has been a massive success, surpassing 15 million global players within its first month after launch in November 2025.
Guild Battles and Feedback Loops
So, large-scale PvP is finally here. But here’s the thing: NetEase is calling this a “Preseason,” and that’s pretty telling. It’s a short, six-match tournament designed explicitly as a live test bed. They’re basically saying, “We built this system, now you all go break it and tell us what you think.” That’s actually a smart move for a live-service game this big. Guild coordination can make or break these modes, and if the core mechanics are flawed, the entire endgame falls apart. I think this cautious, feedback-driven approach is their attempt to avoid the pitfalls that have sunk other MMO-lite experiences. They need to get this right to keep those 15 million players engaged long-term.
The Utter Chaos of Elder Express
Now, let’s talk about “Elder Express.” A game mode dedicated to… giving piggyback rides to seniors. In a sweeping, martial arts epic. It’s so absurd it might just be genius. Look, after battling mythical beasts and mastering ancient techniques, sometimes you just want to run through a city with a granny on your back, right? It’s a low-stakes, purely chaotic social activity that players can jump into without any prerequisites. These kinds of silly, viral-friendly modes are becoming a staple in online games—they’re pure content for streamers and a fun distraction from the grind. It shows NetEase isn’t taking its Wuxia setting *too* seriously, which is probably a healthy thing.
Traction and Trajectory
Hitting 15 million players in a month is no joke. It confirms that the appetite for a high-production-value, open-world Wuxia game was huge and largely untapped on a global scale. Following Marvel Rivals, this is another major win for NetEase’s pipeline beyond its established mobile titles. The real test, though, is what happens now. Content updates like v1.2 are critical to converting those launch window players into a permanent community. Guild Battles provide the competitive endgame, while quirky modes like Elder Express offer social glue. If they can balance this update cadence, they’ve got a monster hit on their hands for years to come. Basically, the foundation is rock solid. Now we see if the house they build on it is sturdy.
