Short answer: yes, Where Winds Meet is free to play on PS5 at launch. The $14.99 price you may see on the PlayStation Store is for an optional pre-order bundle with cosmetics and in-game items, not the base game itself. You’ll be able to download and play the full game for free when it goes live.
Why there’s a price tag on a free game
On the PlayStation Store, the product page clearly labels the game as “(F2P)” and notes that it “will be released on November 14 (PT) and will be free to play.” The $14.99 SKU is a separate, optional pack that includes:
- Appearance Custom Pack x1
- Astral Trail Name Card Background x1
- Coins x10,000
- Lingering Melody Draw Tokens x2
You do not need this bundle to play. It doesn’t grant early access; it’s simply a bonus pack for players who want cosmetics and currency on day one. If you just want to play, download the free base game at launch from the same listing on the PlayStation Store.
Global release date and time
Where Winds Meet launches globally on November 14, 2025. The PlayStation Store lists 10:00 PM UTC. Here are the corresponding local times:
| Region | Local time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US West (PST) | 2:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| US Mountain (MST) | 3:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| US Central (CST) | 4:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| US East (EST) | 5:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| UK (GMT) | 10:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| Central Europe (CET) | 11:00 PM | Nov 14 |
| Singapore (SGT) | 6:00 AM | Nov 15 |
| Japan (JST) | 7:00 AM | Nov 15 |
| Australia East (AEDT) | 9:00 AM | Nov 15 |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 11:00 AM | Nov 15 |
What you need to play on PS5
- Price: Free-to-play at launch (optional in-game purchases).
- Online: Online play is required.
- Player count: Listed for 10 online players; supports co-op (up to 4) and larger social activities like guild content and raids.
- PS5 features: DualSense vibration and adaptive trigger effects supported; PS5 game streaming is supported with a Premium subscription.
- Rating: ESRB Teen (Use of Alcohol, Violence). In-game purchases include random items.
What the free-to-play model includes
Where Winds Meet runs as a live, always-online open-world RPG set in 10th-century China, built around solo play with seamless co-op and social systems. The store lists “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items),” which typically means optional cosmetics and gacha-style draws are available. You can explore more than 20 regions, take on story content, bosses, and side activities, and team up for dungeons, raids, and competitive duels without paying for the base game.
Cross-progression
Progress carries across supported platforms when you link accounts (Steam, Epic Games, the official PC launcher, and PlayStation). If you plan to play on multiple platforms, complete the account linking flow with the official cross-progression guide before you dive in.
PS5 accessibility features
The PS5 version includes a broad set of accessibility options:
- Visual: Clear Text, Large Text, Visual Comfort (reduce camera effects).
- Audio: Individual volume controls.
- Subtitles: Basic story subtitles, clearer formatting, larger sizes.
- Controls: Basic controller remapping, stick sensitivity/inversion, playable without motion/touch controls, vibration, or adaptive triggers.
- Gameplay: Basic difficulty presets, control/tutorial reminders, and game pausing (offline play only).
Feature and launch facts (quick reference)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform (west) | PS5 and PC |
| Price at launch | $0 (free-to-play) |
| Optional PS5 bundle | $14.99 pre-order bonus pack (cosmetics + items) |
| Release date/time | Nov 14, 2025 — 10:00 PM UTC |
| Online requirement | Online play required |
| Player count | 10 online players (co-op up to 4; guild and raid content) |
| PS5 features | DualSense haptics and triggers; Premium streaming support |
| ESRB rating | Teen (Use of Alcohol, Violence); in-game purchases include random items |
| Accessibility | Text size/clarity, visual comfort, remapping, difficulty presets, pause (offline) |
How to get it on PS5
- On launch day, open the PS Store on your console, search for “Where Winds Meet,” and select the base game to download for free.
- If you want the cosmetic and currency bonuses, purchase the optional “Pre-Order Bundle” on the same PS Store listing before you download.
That’s it: no purchase necessary to start playing. If you’re planning to swap between PS5 and PC, set up cross-progression first so your character and progress follow you.
