Director Kang Dong Yeon and art director Mok Youngmi shared fresh details on LoreVault and Nexon’s promising title.

The team is building a world grounded in historical research, then layering in imaginative, fantastical elements to enhance play. This fusion period drama features figures from Korean mythology—Dosa, Dokkaebi, Gumiho, and more. The hero is Woochi, a legendary Dosa well known among Korean players. The narrative follows Woochi on his path to becoming a Dosa; the game centers on the adventures he experiences along the way. The developers wanted the title to symbolically reflect the hero’s identity, story, and goals. After exploring options, they chose Woochi the Wayfarer. Aiming for a global launch, they went with an English title to make it more approachable worldwide.

Because Woochi’s tale exists in many traditional variants, there’s room for broad interpretation. The team hopes to preserve the character’s charm while adding its own vision—creating something distinct from films and TV dramas—blending traditional Korean aesthetics (gat, hanbok, dorongi) with fantasy elements. It’s a story-driven, single-player game that includes combat. The goal is to leave players with a lasting emotional impact by the ending, leaning on striking, cinematic direction. Equally important is delivering varied, exciting combat set-pieces so the game is just as fun to play.

Although footage to date has looked somber, the game’s core tone is bright, colorful, and warm. The devs believe those vibrant colors and welcoming mood will set it apart from other East Asian fantasy titles. A magpie wearing a gat also appears. When the team saw K-Pop Demon Hunters, they were surprised and delighted—the creators’ extensive research resonated with them. While some motifs may overlap, this game features a far more realistic and adorable magpie, as well as a majestic tiger. The teaser was built with actual in-game assets to depict scenes as they’ll appear in play. They used 3D scanning and MetaHuman-based facial work to craft lifelike, immersive characters.

One advantage is easy access to references for lifestyle, architecture, clothing, and food. They also draw on real Korean landscapes, which has proven invaluable. For many team members, this is a first time working this way—and they’re enjoying it. The challenge is striking a balance between accuracy and fantasy. Because the Joseon era is a real historical period, accuracy and responsibility matter, yet imagination and creativity are essential to gameplay. The team continually debates what to portray realistically and what to reinterpret. With folkloric creatures, reference art is often scarce or nonexistent, making their design tricky but exciting—an opportunity to bring them to life through the studio’s own lens.

Woochi the Wayfarer is in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. The interview did not share a release date.

Source: Gematsu