NetEase Games and Everstone Studio are rolling out Where Winds Meet Version 2.4, titled Across Autumn Waters, on November 13, 2026. The first global anniversary update introduces Hutuo, a war-torn region featuring new story content, a major campaign, two world bosses, additional activities and anniversary rewards. The developers have also published extensive changes to character progression, equipment systems and combat balance.
Hutuo expands the Hidden Mountain area with a storyline centered on the Battle of Zhongdu Bridge, a conflict set sixteen years before the game’s present-day events. The new region explores the consequences of war through soldiers, displaced civilians and communities caught between opposing armies.
Three new Jianghu Legacy storylines accompany the expansion: The Deepest Cut, Melody Amid Reeds and Glimmer Against the Dark. Each examines different perspectives on the conflict, including the tension between military loyalty and protecting civilians.
The update also introduces the Hutuo River Campaign, which culminates in a confrontation with Xiao Han, a Khitan general equipped with Blood-forged Super Armor. Players must contend with his defensive capabilities and use stance-breaking attacks to create openings during combat.
Two additional world bosses are being introduced to the open world. Bingshen appears at Moonveil Knoll and uses fast movement and sweeping attacks, while Yelu Abuli, a Khitan royal shaman, employs ritual-based abilities and fire attacks. Both encounters connect to Hutuo’s wider narrative.
Beyond combat, Version 2.4 adds Horse Racing Chess and Jianghu Tactics. Horse Racing Chess places players directly onto a board as game pieces, incorporating dice rolls, movement and familiar Mystic Skills. Jianghu Tactics instead focuses on assembling a roster of Heroic Spirits, positioning units, managing equipment and combining character abilities to gain an advantage.
The anniversary celebration includes rewards for both returning and existing players. Players can select one free outfit from twelve available designs, each normally valued at 2,580 Echo Beads. Anniversary activities also provide opportunities to earn 42 Lingering Melody draws and 27 Resonating Melody draws.
Several limited-time activities accompany these rewards. Blades & Bonds runs from November 13 through January 14, 2027, introducing anniversary activities including Horse Racing Chess. A Year Encountered allows players to collect Encounter Tokens for an anniversary shop, while Enduring Flame adds further quests and cosmetic rewards through December 10.
Version 2.4 also makes substantial changes to equipment progression. A new Modulated Gear Recovery feature allows fully tuned Legendary equipment consumed as Modulating materials to be recovered within seven days, provided the materials received are returned.
Previously unlocked equipment sets can now be switched without consuming additional free switching attempts or Echo Jade. Gear tuning and retuning have also been adjusted, including a reduction in Reset Tuning and Retuning Correction cooldowns from five days to three.
Players between levels 96 and 99 retain a catch-up bonus that increases experience gains to 400%. Equipment below the current Tier 100 standard also receives reduced attribute requirements, making older gear easier to equip.
Combat changes affect multiple martial arts and competitive modes. The developers have adjusted skill animations, attack tracking, dodge distances, cancellation windows and weapon-specific interactions. Arena changes include revised consecutive deflection limits and additional Endurance consumption for certain charged attacks.
These adjustments cover weapons including swords, spears, dual blades, rope darts and umbrellas. Guild War and Perception Forest also receive separate balancing changes, alongside fixes for several combat-related issues.
One significant combat addition is arriving later than the main anniversary update. The new Dual Spears martial art is scheduled for November 26, rather than November 13.
Developed with choreography directed by action director Yuen Woo-ping, Dual Spears combines two fighting styles. Light Spears emphasize offensive pressure and rapid attacks, while Heavy Spears focus on breaking enemy stances and countering opponents. A dedicated Dual-Weapon Skill allows players to transition between the two during combinations.
The developers have also confirmed that another weapon developed under Yuen Woo-ping’s direction, the Coiling Dragon Staff, is planned for a future update, although a release date has not been announced.
For PC players, the anniversary update arrives ahead of the separately announced DLSS 5 support for Where Winds Meet, which is scheduled for November 23. That graphics technology update is separate from the November 13 content expansion.
According to the official Version 2.4 update overview published November 12, deployment takes place on November 13 between 18:00 and 22:59 UTC+8, with the new version expected to become available after 23:00 UTC+8, equivalent to 7:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.
The update uses a live maintenance process, allowing players to remain online during deployment, although certain game functions may temporarily become unavailable. Players must log back into the game to install the updated version, and those running different versions cannot play together.
Maintenance may finish earlier or later depending on server conditions. Players who have not reconnected after deployment will eventually be disconnected automatically.
With Hutuo, Where Winds Meet receives a substantial expansion to its explorable world and story content, alongside new boss encounters, anniversary activities and changes to existing combat and progression systems. The Dual Spears martial art follows on November 26 as a separate addition to the anniversary rollout.
