NetEase chose the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a chaotic era between the Tang and Song dynasties with very few prior game adaptations
Real historical figures are woven into gameplay - players encounter characters like Tian Yin through hidden questlines and story-driven interactions
Upcoming content expansions, including the Liangzhou chapter, will introduce additional historically rooted characters and events
The team drew creative inspiration from wuxia films, TV series, and novels to shape the tone and philosophical core of the world

Where Winds Meet runs on a NetEase-developed proprietary engine previously used in other titles, but deployed in an open-world format for the first time
The target map size is approximately 12x12 kilometers, with seamless world streaming as a core technical requirement
Full map availability has not yet been achieved and remains a key objective for future updates
Large-scale integration across design, art, and engine teams was identified as one of the most demanding aspects of development

Combat systems include acupoint strikes, lightness skills, and martial arts techniques that directly tie into traversal, combat, and puzzle design
Horse riding and other period-accurate abilities are fully interactive systems, not cosmetic overlays
NetEase partnered with action directors, choreographers from the Beijing Dance Academy, and historians from leading universities to ensure accuracy
Renowned martial arts consultant Stephen Tung Wai - known for work with John Woo, Tsui Hark, Wong Kar-wai, and Bruce Lee - led combat and motion capture

NetEase operates in-house motion capture studios in Hangzhou and Shanghai, enabling both internal and externally partnered capture workflows
Two parallel approaches are used: internal team-developed motion concepts performed in-house, and external martial arts expert collaborations
The priority throughout was ensuring captured movement authentically reflects wuxia martial arts style and philosophy

The project began with fewer than 10 developers and has scaled to approximately 500 by mid-2025
Pre-launch R&D spanned roughly 5 years, with active development and live content expansion continuing beyond launch
The team chose a hybrid model - single-player for immersive narrative focus, multiplayer for wuxia's core themes of brotherhood, rivalry, and alliance
"Allowing both single-player and multiplayer experiences helps us stay true to the wuxia spirit while giving players flexibility in how they engage with the world." - NetEase Development Team

NetEase is actively expanding the game's map toward the 12x12km target through future updates
New historical chapters such as Liangzhou are in development, deepening the narrative and cultural scope of the world
The team's growth to 500 developers signals a long-term live service commitment rather than a post-launch wind-down