A New Way to Close Out the Year: Wuthering Waves 3.0

Dec 15, 2025

KURO GAMES held a media preview event in Guangzhou on Dec. 10 ahead of the 3.0 update for its open-world RPG ‘Wuthering Waves.’ It marked the first time since the company’s founding in 2014 that media and streamers from China, Korea and Japan were invited as part of a coordinated global promotion for Wuthering Waves 3.0.

KURO GAMES strengthened its presence in the global subculture gaming scene earlier this year with Version 2, set in the Rinascita region. That rising interest was underscored by several recent leaks, which created challenges for the development team. In response, KURO GAMES offered an early look at Lahai-Roi, a new region arriving in Version 3.0, through a demo space themed around its main setting, Startorch Academy.

Note: This demo build is still in development, and content may change.

Speed Through Exploration: Bikes Replace Gliding in Version 3.0

For players entering Version 3.0 after Version 2.0, the most immediate question is about bikes. That’s because gliding—a defining feature of Version 2.0—is no longer available in Lahai-Roi, with bikes taking its place.

The basic mechanics were first shown alongside the introduction of Lynae and Mornye. As seen in Lynae’s artwork, the bike can be customized and used in a first-person perspective, offering a new way to view the world. This is similar to the exciting combat experienced briefly from Galbrena's perspective in the 2.7 main story. Although the reveal at that time was short and left much to be desired, the demo showed that the 'bike' offered a distinct and additional flavor.

The bike shows a surprising ability to handle terrain.. It possesses climbing capabilities that allow it to ascend even quite steep cliffs without hesitation, and by pressing the E key, players can jump or briefly float in the air, enhancing the enjoyment of overcoming terrain. In Lahai-Roi’s opening area, the Roya Frostlands, gentler slopes replace sheer cliffs, allowing most areas to be traversed directly by bike. Additionally, jump pads and sections where a rope can be attached while riding the motorcycle are provided throughout, offering a different thrill of speed compared to gliding.

An experimental autonomous driving feature was also introduced.The autonomous driving function automatically travels to the destination along the road network laid out everywhere, and at this time, by activating the movie shooting mode, various angles can be produced like a road movie. In particular, there was a unique charm in capturing different scenes in one shot by riding with other Resonators.

While the full story demonstration has not been released, preventing complete understanding of the underlying circumstances, certain sections of the roads in the 'Roya Frostlands' are currently destroyed. Consequently, there are intermittent quests for road network reconstruction, known as 'Frontier Renewal'. As these quests are completed, the road network gradually normalizes, expanding the areas accessible by autonomous driving. Additionally, clearing 'Void Storm' sections along the way allows players to earn bike experience and level up. This not only enables upgrading bike functions through leveling but also provides customization options like painting, thereby adding both enjoyment and purpose to exploring various parts of the Roya Frostlands with the 'bike'.

▲ Centered around the roads, players can experience various challenges, from vagrants hindering road network restoration to makeshift jump sections.

Lynae and Mornye Add Tactical Depth Through the New Discord System

Despite previous video reveals, players remain eager to see how the new Resonators, Lynae and Mornye, function in Version 3.0. 'Lynae’s design—a blonde high school student archetype—is uncommon in 3D open-world games, while 'Mornye' features a unique style reminiscent of the developer's previous work, 'Punishing'. Furthermore, with 'Wuthering Waves' characteristic stylish and exhilarating action, players are naturally curious about how the action's controls and utility will translate into gameplay.

Lynae is a Spectro-attribute pistol Resonator who stands out with her hip-style action utilizing spray and skates. Compared to other Resonators, she uniquely possesses three types of gauges, which means she has many derived skills and a unique operating style, making her a sub-dealer and supporter who offers a distinct gameplay experience.

First, a short press of the Resonance Skill throws a spray can, charging forward to deal damage and fill the Spectrum Gauge at the bottom. This Spectrum Gauge is charged by normal attacks or Resonance Skills, and when fully charged, using a heavy attack initiates a powerful dropkick and enters the 'Kaleidoscopic Parade' state. In this state, not only are normal attacks enhanced, but pressing the jump key, depending on the mid-level gauge, leads to spectacular aerial attack derivatives. Additionally, Resonance Liberation provides a buff that increases damage for all allies, suggesting it will offer new team composition fun as a sub-dealer and supporter.

▲ 'Lynae' activates a special attack with the jump key upon satisfying certain conditions, offering the enjoyment of controlling derived skills and even providing buffs through Resonance Liberation.

Mornye is a Fusion-attribute broadsword Resonato, whose key ability is the 'Wide Area Observation Mode', activated by accumulating a gauge. To draw a comparison, it's similar to the Shorekeeper's Resonance Liberation, where it establishes a field that provides buffs to those within it. Mornye's buffs are more focused on defensive aspects, including continuous HP recovery and a 'Guard' effect that reduces damage taken from enemy attacks while reflecting Fusion damage back to the enemy. Additionally, it has an effect that increases the efficiency of accumulating 'Discord' values, a new system.

The newly added Discordance stat, when accumulated above a certain threshold, allows players to activate an execution with the F key, which further reduces the stagger stat or deals significantly more damage. Additionally, Monie is expected to serve as another 5-star Supporter, providing stable damage dealing support to the party by resetting the duration of the wide-area observation mode effect upon Resonance Liberation, and further increasing Defense and healing effects.

▲ 'Mornye' boosts continuous recovery and discord value increase buffs with variation skills, and further enhances buffs with Resonance Liberation.

In version 3.0, players can encounter new Echo sets designed for those two Characters, as well as additional Bosses. The 'Reactor Husk,' which did not appear in the pre-release video, has a pattern where it strongly swings a blade equipped on its left arm, dealing significantly threatening Damage. If enough Discord is accumulated, its arm becomes stuck in the ground, triggering a special animation. At this point, pressing the F key activates an execution, breaking its arm and briefly staggering it, providing an opportunity for high burst Damage.

'Hyvatia', which appeared in the pre-release video, is characterized by the unique concept of 'Future Sight'. When a user dodges or parries attacks a few times, Future Sight activates, a unique mechanic where the subsequent attack cannot be countered by a just dodge or parry. This necessitated different countermeasures than before, such as sprinting far away or completely taking refuge in the air to intercept.

▲ The 'Reactor' that was not seen in the pre-release video, and the pattern of drawing and swinging a sword, deal powerful Damage, so caution is advised

▲ The newly added Dissonance system in 3.0 allows for an execution to be triggered with the F key once a certain threshold is reached.

▲ 'Hyvatia' attacks after activating Future Sight cannot be dodged or parried; subsequent hologram challenges are anticipated

Wuthering Waves 3.0 Offers Fresh Reasons to Dive In Over the Holidays

The demo did not provide a complete picture of the story. Therefore, we could not confirm in advance why the Wanderer went to the Lahai-Roi's Roya Frostlands, how they met Lynae and Mornye, or what story would unfold from there. While we were able to gather fragmented information by traversing near Startorch Academy and occasionally interacting with students and professors, it would be premature to discuss the full story based solely on that.

So, while it was just a glimpse of the bigger picture, that mere cross-section alone made me look forward to the Christmas season and the year-end/new year period, where I could savor 'Wuthering Waves 3.0'. The sight of mechanical Echos resembling ancient mammals frolicking in fields reminiscent of lavender-filled northern prairies, interspersed with traces of lost technology and the experience of traversing cliffs, offered a distinct flavor compared to Rinascita or Jinzhou. Additionally, the new puzzle 'Advanced Printer Reboot' introduced a unique mechanic of rolling boxes with WASD to fill gaps, and the adorable Echos 'Solar Spirit' that appeared in the pre-release video offered interactions and rewards throughout, making exploration to find them enjoyable.

For hardcore users, there is also the 'Exostrider Piloting Simulator,' a more challenging hologram trial. This hologram trial imposes difficult constraints, such as certain attacks being unavoidable. As it requires both high specifications and precise tactics, hardcore users are expected to dedicate significant effort to conquering it during the year-end and New Year period.

Appendix: DIY Merchandise Hints at Future Offline Events

The demo venue itself reflected significant effort from KURO GAMES to recreate the world of Wuthering Waves 3.0. Therefore, it is worth anticipating not only the Wuthering Waves 3.0 update but also what unique experiences will be offered to users at subsequent offline events.