NetEase Games and its subsidiary, Everstone Studio, have unveiled detailed information regarding the first expansion update for their open-world wuxia action RPG, Where Winds Meet. Titled 'Hexi', this expansion is free to play across PC, console, and mobile platforms and consists of three chapters. The first chapter of Hexi, 'Jade Gate', is set to launch on March 6.

The Hexi expansion content will be introduced sequentially from March to May through three chapters: Jade Gate, Liangzhou, and Zhenchuan. In Hexi, players will explore new environments such as deserts, frozen regions, and grasslands, encountering various new content including three major maps, 20 sub-regions, 11 bosses, and numerous side quests. Unlike the base game, Hexi shifts the narrative to the Tang Dynasty. Players will experience gameplay focused on becoming an ordinary person in history, living through the era and shaping its events.

The first chapter, Jade Gate, which begins on March 6, is set in a desert region. Following the Jade Gate update, players can acquire two new martial arts skills specialized for desert survival. 'Golden Scale Swimming' is a technique that allows players to glide over sand to increase movement speed, while 'Qiankun Reversal' is an ability to rewind time. These new skills are useful for overcoming obstacles, discovering secrets, and solving puzzles, which are key components of the Jade Gate chapter.

Along with the Jade Gate update, players can experience the new boss campaign in Baiducheng. Baiducheng is a border fortress located between Jade Gate and Liangzhou, where players will face the legendary guardian Guo Xin as a boss. The 'Mirage Ship' also appears as a new boss, drifting freely through the sea of sand. The Mirage Ship takes the form of a massive vessel and is a being closely related to the myths and legends of the Hexi region.

Meanwhile, the update introduces the new 'Pazhu-Zhen' sect, along with new martial arts utilizing umbrellas and throwing darts. 'Spring Dream' is an umbrella-based attack technique centered on agility, allowing players to unleash continuous combos to gain an advantage in tight spaces or multi-target combat. 'Trace of Clouds' is a new throwing dart technique that deals continuous damage over a wide area, making it effective for both crowd control and one-on-one duels.