On the 23rd, Webzen's injunction request to halt the launch of Dragon Sword: Awakening was dismissed by the court, paving the way for the game to land safely on Steam. In the opening round of this legal sparring match, Webzen caught a heavy counter-punch right on the chin. For a publisher staring down a decision defeat, the red light is already flashing for their upcoming main litigation strategy.

The court identified a decisive factor for this dismissal: Webzen appeared to have breached its contractual obligations first. By failing to pay the Minimum Guarantee (MG) within the agreed timeframe and explicitly signaling an intent to withhold payment, Hound 13 was deemed well within their rights to terminate the publishing agreement. The court also noted that the allegations regarding unauthorized use of translations lacked sufficient evidence, and concluded that the Steam launch would not cause irreparable harm to Webzen. While the main lawsuit could shift the landscape, the current momentum is firmly against Webzen.

Despite this setback, Webzen is still bearing the brunt of ongoing costs to keep the Dragon Sword service alive. Even with the user refund process fully completed, Webzen is choosing to swallow the fixed costs of server maintenance and management rather than pulling the plug. It is a stubborn display of intent—a clear signal that the publisher is determined to cling to its perceived rights and justifications, regardless of the financial drain.

The first round of this legal battle, essentially a skirmish for territory, ended in a KO victory for Hound 13. However, the second round—the main litigation—still looms on the horizon. While more evidence will undoubtedly be tossed into the ring, whether a game-changing revelation exists is anyone's guess. We shall have to keep a close eye on both companies to see if this fight continues or if the curtain falls here.