A cinematic plot twist has just occurred in the disastrous Dragon Sword conflict between developer Hound13 and publisher Webzen. The withheld 3 Billion KRW (approximately $2.2M USD) Minimum Guarantee (MG) was suddenly deposited into Hound13's account.
This dramatic turn of events was first broken by GSBG, a massive Korean gaming YouTube channel boasting nearly 900,000 subscribers.
GSBG is highly respected in Korea for exposing gaming industry corruption, often working closely with the Korean Game User Association to protect gamers' rights. When Hound13’s CEO, pushed to the brink, requested an interview with GSBG to blow the whistle, Webzen broke their silence. Terrified of the incoming PR disaster, the publisher abruptly wired the 3 Billion KRW before the interview even took place.
Based on GSBG's explosive report, let's dive into the shocking new details behind this crisis.
1. Intentional Sabotage or Pure Incompetence?
One of the biggest mysteries was the game's launch date. Why did Webzen force the game to launch head-to-head with the global anime-style gacha juggernaut, Arknights: Endfield?
This sparked a conspiracy theory: Did Webzen intentionally sabotage the game's launch to tank its value and force a hostile takeover? While it sounds counterintuitive for a publisher to ruin their own game, there is a compelling theory. The CEO of Hound13 previously created the global hit Dragon Nest. Webzen might have recognized Dragon Sword's massive global potential and decided that sacrificing the smaller Korean market was worth it if it meant swallowing the developer at a heavy discount.
However, industry insiders point to a simpler, more embarrassing possibility: Pure Incompetence. Webzen's DNA is rooted in old-school, hardcore MMORPGs like the MU series. They have zero understanding of the modern anime-style gacha market. Furthermore, Webzen is currently losing a plagiarism lawsuit against NCSoft. Paralyzed by this legal battle, they were reportedly obsessing over NCSoft's upcoming Aion 2, completely blind to the fact that Endfield was the actual apocalyptic threat to Dragon Sword's player base.
2. The 1% Share Trap: A Vicious Takeover Attempt
The exact math behind Webzen’s "subsidiary integration" demand has also been revealed, and it is ruthless.
Webzen demanded that Hound13 issue new shares, which Webzen would then buy at their base face value to provide the "necessary funds." Webzen also demanded that Hound13's CEO personally persuade all other existing investors to accept this massive loss.
If this restructuring went through, Webzen (currently holding 25.6%) would seize absolute majority control. Meanwhile, the CEO who founded the studio and built the game would see his shares plummet from 31% to a mere 1%. It was a blatant attempt to steal the company for pennies.
3. Enter GSBG, and the Sudden Surrender
Backed into a corner with his staff on unpaid leave, Hound13’s CEO played his trump card: GSBG.
He decided to expose this tyranny through the loudest megaphone in the Korean gaming scene. The threat of a 900k-subscriber channel tearing them apart—combined with the potential for the Korean Game User Association to drag the issue into the political and legal spotlight—forced Webzen to surrender. As soon as they caught wind of the interview, the 3 Billion KRW MG was instantly deposited.
4. Can the Korean Server Actually Be Saved?
While the developers finally got paid, the game itself is still on life support. The Korean server of Dragon Sword is currently beyond repair.
With 100% refunds still processing and the game handing out infinite amounts of premium gacha currency daily, it is trapped in a zombie-like "Maintenance Mode." The in-game economy is entirely shattered. Continuing the live service in this state is impossible.
Hound13 remains passionate, stating, "Even if the publisher changes, we want to save this game at all costs." However, normalizing the service would require a massive server wipe, a rollback, or a complete relaunch. Despite paying the MG, Webzen remains completely silent on the actual future of the game. Hound13 is currently demanding that Webzen provide a viable alternative or an exit strategy.
The developers fought back using the ultimate whistleblower and won a crucial battle. However, the war for Dragon Sword's survival is far from over. Will Webzen propose a solution, or will the contract finally be terminated so Hound13 can find a publisher who actually cares?
I’ll keep updating this saga as the drama unfolds.
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