Publisher Wangyuan Shengtang and developer Aurogon Shanghai have officially announced Swords of Legends, previously announced as Gujian 4 in 2021, for PC and unspecified consoles.
This is a single-player action RPG set in a mystical world inspired by legendary Chinese literature and Far Eastern cultural folklore, developed in Unreal Engine 5. No release date has been announced.
See a description (via official website):
Swords of Legends is a single-player action RPG developed by Aurogon Shanghai.
The living are travelers, but the dead return home. In this world we pass through, we mourn the approaching end that awaits us all.
Dead but reborn, you become an Underworld Executor, embarking on an adventure to guide departed souls.
■ Q&A
Is Swords of Legends a canonical sequel to the Gujian franchise or another spin-off?
Swords of Legends is the official sequel to the Gujian single-player series, developed by Shanghai Aurogon Studio. Building upon its predecessor’s foundation, the game will further expand the series’ universe and narrative.
Is it a premium single-player title or a free-to-play service project? On which platforms will it launch? Will there be a mobile version?
Swords of Legends is a premium single-player title slated for release on PC and consoles, with no mobile version. It is not a free-to-play title.
What genre is the game? Is it Soulslike? Is it open-world?
Swords of Legends is an action RPG featuring a strong, well-paced main story alongside rich cinematic storytelling, supplemented by side quests and deep exploration. Neither a Soulslike nor a full open-world game, its structure leans toward a “broad-linear” experience, allowing players to approach the adventure at their own pace within guided progression.
We noticed a distinct shift in art direction and atmosphere compared to previous games. What kind of story are you telling this time?
As always, the game takes place in an original fantasy world inspired by Chinese mythology and mystical folklore. This time, we’re expanding the Gujian universe by casting players as an “Underworld Executor” — a unique figure traversing the realms of the living and dead. You might recognize familiar figures like the Ox-Head and Horse-Face guardians in the trailer; they’ll serve as companions on your journey.
However, this isn’t merely a retelling of classic myths — players will personally guide lost souls, helping them resolve lingering regrets. Each soul carries a deeply personal story. For example, the trailer shows a woman dancing before bronze bells, unable to sever her attachment to the mortal world, willing to pay any price to remain.
How challenging is the combat?
We’re not aiming for punitive difficulty or purely skill-based combat. For instance, “soul capture” functions as both a narrative mechanic and core combat system. Players can capture certain monsters’ souls and summon them for battle assistance, with some enabling cooperative combo attacks — like the special aerial strike activated in the trailer while fighting alongside Ox-Head and Horse-Face. Exploration also yields various utility items to aid combat, while flexible weapon and skill loadouts allow adaptation to different enemy types. Our goal is ensuring players of all skill levels can enjoy themselves — and, like any quality RPG, relish the rewarding journey of growing stronger.
I’ve never played any Gujian franchise games. Do I need to catch up on previous titles to enjoy this?
No. Each Gujian franchise entry tells a standalone, complete story, and this installment is no exception: it features new characters and an independent narrative.
What is the current development status? Will the game release soon?
In 2021, we were still in early project initiation and preliminary research phases. We set high-quality expectations for the new title and, after exploring various technical approaches, decided to develop it using Unreal Engine 5. This choice required significant budget, presenting major challenges at the time.
While upgrading the engine, we also conducted foundational research and planning. In early 2024, we secured investment, allowing the Swords of Legends team to gradually expand. As such, the game has been in active development for approximately two years.
We’ve now entered full-scale production and, with this first trailer release, aim to showcase our progress while attracting exceptional talent to join our team.
