Summary
During theXboxGames Showcase at Summer Game Fest, developer and publisher EVR Studio revealed the narrative-driven, third-person action-adventureMudang: Two Hearts. The high-octane reveal trailer boastedMudang: Two Hearts’ immersive tactical stealth, raw combat, and cinematic story set on a “politically volatile Korean peninsula.”
Some of the innovative features that will be included in the action-adventure are fluid motion-matched animations, dynamic spatial audio, and intelligent AI, the latter of which is an element that’s caused controversy in the industry.EA, Take-Two, and CD Projekt have voiced concerns about using AI due to backlash, as the point of contention centers on technology taking professionals’ jobs.
Mudang: Two Hearts’ Xbox Games Showcase reveal trailer introduced gamers to the project’s premise, which is based on a webtoon and joins some of thebest Korean webtoonsthat are available to dive into. The story revolves around the unification of North and South Korea and follows a variety of characters through interchanging perspectives, including North Korean soldier Ji Jeong Tae, ORDO K-pop group member Gavi, and terrorist ID: Ghost.Mudang: Two Heartsis EVR Studio’s debut release, previously titled “Project TH,” and the endeavor was built using the developer’s state-of-the-art performance-capture pipeline. Additionally, the trailer confirmed the game would be coming to Xbox Series consoles and PC in 2026.
Mudang: Two Hearts Draws Comparisons to Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid
Due to its stealth and military themes,Mudang: Two Heartsdrew immediate comparisons toTom Clancy’s Splinter Celland a prominent Konami franchise, including some of thebest games from theMetal Gear Solidseries, likeMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, andMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Further comparisons were also made to the Moo Deng hippo, which gained internet fame recently, and K-pop fans believed in jest that the inclusion of the music genre in video games would bring peace to the world and save the gaming industry in one fell swoop.
Mudang: Two Heartswasn’t the only Korean project to be announced during the Xbox Games showcase, asNetmarble debutedSolo Leveling: Arise Overdrive, a new four-player co-op action RPG based on the popular anime.Solo Levelingis a South Korean portal fantasy web novel that also received a webtoon adaptation similar toMudang: Two Hearts, andArise Overdriveis thought to be a precursor to the anime’s rumored Season 3, which is expected to air in early 2026.
