Korean action RPG The Relic: First Guardian set to launch on May 26
Publisher Perp Games and developer Project Cloud Games have announced that The Relic: First Guardian will launch on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam).
The Relic: First Guardian is an action RPG inspired by Korean folklore & myths, and it notably does not feature a stamina system. Perp Games recently released an 8-minute gameplay video, as well as a "The Love of a Family" trailer.
A new release date trailer, description, and screenshot set can be found below, via Perp Games.
Publisher Perp Games and South Korean studio, Project Cloud Games, today announce that The Relic: First Guardian will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam on May 26th, 2026.
In addition to revealing the launch date, Project Cloud Games is also giving a glimpse of what’s to come in the highly anticipated title that beckons players into a folklore-filled story of love, tragedy, and untraditional heroism.
Tales of near-forgotten folk
In The Relic: First Guardian, every moment holds a fragment of a story waiting to be told once more; much like a folktale told throughout the generations. Following those stories will unearth a tale of someone who once lived there, and it is your mission to restore those memories and ensure they live on. Some are tragic and others will remain forever unfinished.
A combat system as unique as your character
This is reflected in the combat system where there is freedom in attacks and intensity in survival. Stamina is reserved for defence and dodging, whereas attacks are relinquished of any form of depletion. Skills operate on cooldowns, with no consumption of resources to balance in every encounter. This direction is to allow every player to adapt to their own playstyle and rhythm, seamlessly blending combat flow.
Weapons have been designed around different emotional themes to add to this flowing combat system. With five weapon types to choose from and twelve exclusive skills trees, players will be able to blend abilities to form an entirely unique class of their own.
Equipment and growth
The Relic reimagines the traditional RPG loot structure by ensuring that every weapon and piece of armour exists only once in the game world. Each item is a unique artifact, such as the final blade of a legendary knight or a shield representing a family's ancient vow. When acquiring equipment, players inherit the unique history and powerful story it has lived through.
Uniqueness extends to character progression, as there are no traditional character levels. Players grow by collecting memories in the form of Relics (Runes); fragments imbued with the emotions and wishes of those who came before. Each Relic carries one of over 70 unique passive effects that can reshape skill behaviour, alter combat tempo, and enhance specific weapon styles. By strategically equipping these Relics, players define the Guardian they wish to become, shifting the focus of growth from numerical progression to the accumulation of meaningful in-world experiences.
The loss of a boss
Weapons and combat abilities will be put to the test against over 70 bosses. With each boss carrying their own story of tragedy, players will encounter a tale of much-needed completion and peace. Successfully confronting each one head on will garner their unique tale and can finally have a finishing chapter.
Legends never truly perish
The Relic: First Guardian places emphasis on the hero remembered for restoring fading memories and piecing stories back together. Whether it’s a brief letter left unread, or the hopes of a child spinning a pinwheel awaiting their father’s return, these stories quietly appear... waiting to be weaved back together to form the full story.
