Where Winds Meet 1.8 Update: Release Date, Homestead, Pets and New Modes
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The Where Winds Meet 1.8 update, officially titled Companions Make Home, launches on June 25, 2026, based on UTC timing.
Instead of concentrating entirely on a new combat region, Version 1.8 expands the lifestyle and multiplayer sides of the game. Wanderers will return to Qinghe to restore Blissful Retreat, construct a personal residence, recruit Retainers, raise interactive animal companions, and participate in several new cooperative and competitive modes.
The update begins on June 25, but its full roadmap will continue into July with Goldie the goose, Phantom Thief Goose, Jianghu Martial Games, and expanded residence-sharing features.
This guide covers the confirmed release date, Homestead mechanics, pets, multiplayer activities, event schedule, rewards, and everything players should know before the update arrives.
Where Winds Meet 1.8 Release Date
Where Winds Meet Version 1.8 is scheduled to release on June 25, 2026 UTC across all currently supported platforms.
The update will be available on:
PC through Steam and Epic Games Store
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox on PC
Xbox Cloud Gaming
Android
iOS
NetEase and Everstone Studio have not yet confirmed an exact global maintenance period. Depending on the final server schedule, the update may become available on June 24 in some North American time zones.
Players should check the official Where Winds Meet news page before launch for maintenance notices, pre-download details, and possible schedule adjustments.
Where Winds Meet 1.8 Content Overview
Version 1.8 combines permanent progression systems with limited-time activities running throughout the update cycle.
Several features will become available after the initial update rather than immediately on June 25. In particular, players should not expect Goldie, Phantom Thief Goose, Jianghu Martial Games II, or Beyond Artistry to be available on day one.
The New Homestead System Explained
The Homestead system is the centerpiece of the Where Winds Meet 1.8 update.
Players will return to Qinghe as the Young Master and begin restoring Blissful Retreat, the village connected to the Wanderer’s early life. However, this feature involves far more than placing furniture in an existing courtyard.
It introduces a full village restoration and estate management loop.
Rebuilding Blissful Retreat
Blissful Retreat begins in a damaged state. Players will gradually bring the settlement back to life by constructing businesses, recruiting workers, assigning suitable roles, and developing the local economy.
Confirmed Homestead activities include:
Operating an inn
Restoring a porcelain kiln
Running a brewery
Farming
Trading
Recruiting local villagers
Recruiting certain animals as Retainers
Assigning Retainers according to their individual talents
The Retainer system should make worker selection and business management important parts of Homestead progression. Exact Retainer statistics, production bonuses, upgrade costs, and optimization strategies have not yet been published.
Those details should become clearer once the update is live.
Homestead Businesses and Progression
The Homestead is designed as a long-term management system rather than a short quest chain.
Businesses such as the inn, brewery, farm, and porcelain kiln are expected to contribute to the restoration of Blissful Retreat. Players will likely need to balance building upgrades, worker assignments, production, and local trade as the village develops.
Participating in Homestead activities rewards a dedicated currency that can be spent in the Homestead Shop.
One confirmed free reward is the Summer’s Blush outfit. Additional shop items, currency limits, prices, and weekly objectives should be confirmed after launch.
What Is Beyond Mundane?
Beyond Mundane is a separate Homestead zone introduced in Version 1.8.
Unlike Blissful Retreat, which revolves around restoring and managing a village, Beyond Mundane functions as a private creative space completely separated from the main open world.
Players will have broad freedom to build and decorate without following a fixed layout. The developers have suggested several possible designs, including:
A quiet personal hideaway
A busy traditional street
A waterside courtyard
A large custom residence
More experimental player-created structures
This distinction is important. Blissful Retreat focuses on restoration and management, while Beyond Mundane focuses on free construction and personal expression.
Beyond Artistry Arrives in July
The Homestead feature will expand again in July through Beyond Artistry.
Beyond Artistry will allow players to design, showcase, and socially share their customized residences. This should transform housing into a community feature where players can display builds and discover ideas created by other Wanderers.
An exact July release date has not yet been confirmed.
Where Winds Meet Pets and Companion System
Version 1.8 also introduces interactive animal companions.
These pets are not designed to function as simple cosmetic followers. According to the official developer Q&A, companions have moods, needs, environmental reactions, relationship progression, and unique interactions.
All Confirmed Version 1.8 Companions
The exact quests or acquisition requirements for each companion have not yet been announced.
Players should therefore avoid assuming that all three cats will be automatically unlocked upon logging in. Some may require Homestead progression, specific quests, event participation, or other objectives.
What Can You Do With Companions?
Players will be able to interact with their companions in several ways:
Play with them
Talk or communicate with them
Share meals
Take photographs together
Dress them in companion outfits
Travel alongside them
Unlock additional actions and emotes
Improve their mood and well-being
Each interaction contributes to the relationship between the Wanderer and the companion.
Over time, these activities increase a dedicated Bond level.
Companion Bond Rewards
Increasing Bond unlocks additional companion content.
Confirmed reward categories include:
New companion interactions
Specialized emotes
Interactive actions
Custom companion outfits
Exclusive player rewards
Cute Master-themed cosmetic content
The English announcement material uses slightly different wording when describing the Cute Master reward, so players should verify whether it is a title, clothing item, or another cosmetic after the update launches.
Dynamic Pet Behavior
Companions will react to objects, wildlife, weather, and events around them.
For example, a pet may stop to watch a butterfly, observe fish in the water, or behave differently during changing weather conditions.
Confirmed environmental reactions include:
Extreme heat
Heavy rain
Sandstorms
Snow
Nearby wildlife
Certain world events
These behaviors should make companions feel more integrated into the open world instead of simply following the player along a predetermined path.
Can Pets Fight in Version 1.8?
Pets will not have a complete combat system when Version 1.8 initially launches.
Everstone Studio has confirmed that a dedicated pet battle system is in development for a future update. However, the studio has not announced a release date or explained how pet combat will work.
Players should not expect Maverick, Scar, Pudding, or Goldie to become normal combat party members on June 25.
New Multiplayer Modes in Version 1.8
The lifestyle additions are only one part of the update. Version 1.8 also introduces several activities for players interested in difficult PvE and competitive multiplayer.
Martial Path Domain
Martial Path Domain is a five-player PvE challenge available to characters at Level 60 or higher.
The activity contains 20 floors, with difficulty increasing as teams climb. It supports Normal and Hard modes and is designed around team coordination rather than solo progression.
How Martial Path Domain Works
Each floor introduces changing Mist effects that modify the battle conditions.
Teams must adapt their strategy while collecting Martial Spirit, a resource that strengthens the party during the run. Efficient use of buffs, defensive abilities, healing, and coordinated damage should become increasingly important on later floors.
Confirmed rewards include:
Upgrade materials
Event currency
Ranking rewards
Exclusive Hero Titles for high-ranking players
Exact material quantities and ranking thresholds are expected to appear in the complete patch notes or in-game event rules.
Tomb of Fortune
Tomb of Fortune places Wanderers inside a dark ancient tomb filled with coffins, valuable treasure, environmental dangers, and hostile players.
The activity combines dungeon exploration with competitive player conflict. Participants must search for valuable items while remaining alert for other Wanderers waiting in the darkness.
The central risk-and-reward loop appears to involve:
Entering the tomb.
Searching coffins and ruins.
Collecting valuable treasure.
Avoiding or defeating rival players.
Escaping with the rewards.
Early English promotional material called the activity Tomb Raiders, while the latest official developer Q&A uses the name Tomb of Fortune. Both terms may appear in older search results, but Tomb of Fortune is currently the more up-to-date official English name.
The original event announcement also mentioned points that could be exchanged for high-value items and a rare purple mount. The mount’s official English name and exchange cost remain unconfirmed.
Ravening Banes
Ravening Banes is a ten-player cooperative PvE activity unlocked at Level 91.
Players can enter through automatic matchmaking or assemble a premade group through Wandering Paths.
The mode focuses on defeating a powerful multiplayer boss and gives endgame players another reason to organize larger teams.
Confirmed appearance rewards include:
Gatekeeper Stele Decoration
Sweep the Heavens Accessory
Because Ravening Banes requires Level 91, it is clearly aimed at established players rather than newcomers entering Version 1.8 for the first time.
New Guild Skyward Bond Difficulties
Guild-focused players will also receive additional endgame content.
Version 1.8 adds Hard and Abyss difficulty tiers to Guild Skyward Bond. These settings should provide stronger challenges for organized guild groups, although exact power recommendations and reward differences have not yet been detailed.
Version 1.8 Event Roadmap
The Where Winds Meet 1.8 event schedule continues well beyond launch day.
Event end dates have not yet been confirmed and should be checked through the in-game event menu after release.
Phantom Thief Goose
Phantom Thief Goose begins on July 3 and may be the most unusual event in the entire update.
Players take control of Goose Bobo, complete a trial for the Goose Emperor, and infiltrate Heaven’s Pier to steal treasure.
Goose Bobo can use several unconventional abilities:
Honking
Pecking
Hiding in bushes
Launching ambushes
Distracting or attacking pursuers
Players can approach the event carefully through stealth or create chaos with a more aggressive strategy.
Villagers, constables, and martial artists will attempt to stop the theft. After successfully bringing stolen treasure to a stash, players earn Goose Feathers, which can be exchanged with the Goose Emperor for rewards.
Jianghu Martial Games: Second Edition
The second Jianghu Martial Games begins on July 10.
This limited-time event adds three fast-paced minigames and offers lighter content after the more combat-focused activities arriving in June.
Confirmed rewards include:
Dangling Carrot outfit
Limited-time cosmetics
Additional event rewards
The official English names and rules of the three minigames have not yet been revealed.
How to Prepare for the Where Winds Meet 1.8 Update
Players can complete several preparations before Version 1.8 launches.
Reach the Required Character Levels
Martial Path Domain requires Level 60, while Ravening Banes requires Level 91.
Reaching those thresholds before June 25 will allow players to enter the new multiplayer activities as soon as they become available.
Complete Relevant Qinghe Content
Because the Homestead story returns players to Qinghe and Blissful Retreat, completing available Qinghe quests may reduce the chance of encountering prerequisite restrictions.
The exact Homestead unlock quest has not yet been announced, so this remains preparation advice rather than a confirmed requirement.
Organize Multiplayer Teams
Players interested in the new challenges should prepare:
A five-player party for Martial Path Domain
A ten-player party for Ravening Banes
A guild group for the new Skyward Bond difficulties
Automatic matchmaking is available for Ravening Banes, but organized groups may have an advantage when learning new boss mechanics.
Leave Inventory Space
Version updates frequently introduce new currencies, materials, tokens, and event items.
Clearing unnecessary inventory items before launch may make it easier to manage Homestead currency, Goose Feathers, and new mode rewards.
Monitor Official Patch Notes
The June 23 developer Q&A is a preview rather than the complete patch notes.
Maintenance times, bug fixes, balance changes, Homestead prerequisites, Companion acquisition methods, and shop prices may only be confirmed when the final update notice is published.
Is the Where Winds Meet 1.8 Update Worth Returning For?
Version 1.8 offers something for several different types of players.
Housing and building fans receive a permanent creative zone through Beyond Mundane. Management-focused players can restore Blissful Retreat and operate village businesses. Casual players gain interactive pets and humorous goose events.
Competitive players can explore Tomb of Fortune, while PvE groups receive Martial Path Domain, Ravening Banes, and harder Guild Skyward Bond tiers.
The update does not appear to be built around one short story chapter. Instead, it adds systems that can remain relevant throughout future versions, particularly Homestead development, residence creation, Retainer management, and companion progression.
For returning players, that broader variety may be the strongest reason to revisit the Jianghu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Where Winds Meet Version 1.8 release?
Version 1.8 is scheduled to release on June 25, 2026, based on UTC timing. An exact maintenance time had not been announced at the time of writing.
What is the name of the Where Winds Meet 1.8 update?
The update is officially titled Companions Make Home.
Is the Version 1.8 update free?
Yes. Version 1.8 is a content update for the free-to-play game. Optional premium cosmetics, passes, or shop packages may still require payment.
How do you unlock the Homestead?
Players will return to Qinghe as the Young Master to restore Blissful Retreat. The exact prerequisite quest and unlock conditions have not yet been published.
Can players build their own houses?
Yes. Beyond Mundane provides a standalone zone where players can freely construct and decorate personalized residences.
Which pets arrive in Version 1.8?
Maverick, Scar, and Pudding are expected on June 25. Goldie the goose is scheduled to follow during the second week.
Can pets participate in combat?
Not through a complete battle system at launch. A dedicated pet combat feature is in development for a future update.
What level is required for Martial Path Domain?
Players must be Level 60 or higher.
What level is required for Ravening Banes?
Ravening Banes unlocks at Level 91.
Are Tomb Raiders and Tomb of Fortune the same mode?
Yes. Early announcement material used the name Tomb Raiders, while the latest official developer Q&A calls the activity Tomb of Fortune.
When does Phantom Thief Goose start?
Phantom Thief Goose begins on July 3, 2026.
When does Jianghu Martial Games II start?
The second Jianghu Martial Games begins on July 10, 2026.
Is Beyond Artistry available on June 25?
No. Beyond Artistry is planned for July, but an exact release date has not yet been announced.
Final Thoughts
The Where Winds Meet 1.8 update launches on June 25 with three major pillars: Homestead restoration, interactive animal companions, and new multiplayer challenges.
Players will be able to rebuild Blissful Retreat, operate businesses, recruit Retainers, construct personalized residences, and form Bonds with cats and geese. Combat-focused Wanderers can instead climb Martial Path Domain, explore Tomb of Fortune, challenge Ravening Banes, or tackle harder guild content.
With Phantom Thief Goose, Jianghu Martial Games II, Goldie, and Beyond Artistry following in July, Companions Make Home is structured as a full update cycle rather than a single launch-day content drop.
Players should watch the official patch notes for final maintenance times, unlock requirements, reward prices, and any changes made before release.
