Webzen has filed an injunction against the Steam re-release of Hound 13's 'Dragon Sword: Awakening.'

Webzen issued a statement via its official community today (the 21st) regarding the 'Dragon Sword' dispute and its planned course of action. The company emphasized that Hound 13's move to re-release the package version, 'Dragon Sword: Awakening,' on Steam was taken without prior agreement. Webzen further explained that Hound 13 had only expressed its intent to prepare for a Steam release rather than providing continued support for the domestic service, which Webzen argues will cause further confusion and hinder the protection and compensation of domestic and international players. Consequently, Webzen stated it filed the injunction to prevent potential customer harm.

'Dragon Sword' is an open-world RPG developed by Hound 13 and published by Webzen, which launched on January 21. While it gained positive attention prior to launch for its unique switching action and classic fantasy-style graphics, operations faltered after Hound 13 announced the termination of the contract, citing Webzen's failure to pay the Minimum Guarantee (MG). In response, Webzen suspended payments, initiated full refunds, and vowed to take strict action.

Following revelations by Hound 13, Webzen announced it would pay the remaining MG and normalize service, but negotiations have remained at a standstill. Hound 13 subsequently announced plans through media outlets to re-release the package version, 'Dragon Sword: Awakening,' on Steam, and began preparing for self-publishing by launching a dedicated Steam page and YouTube channel. While the developer had initially planned to participate in the Steam Next Fest demo in June and launch in July, these plans have become uncertain following Webzen's injunction filing.

Currently, the 'Dragon Sword' game servers remain open, but no major updates are being provided, with only stabilization work continuing. Webzen expressed concern that if the court grants the injunction and forces the developer to halt its Steam service, it could lead to further customer issues, such as refund complications. However, the company stated it would continue to work toward resolving the dispute through legal channels and securing a stable gaming environment for the future.