# Where Winds Meet Version 1.8 Dev Q&A: A Place to Call Home

- Product: Where Winds Meet (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/where-winds-meet)
- Vendor: Everstone Studio
- Date: 2026-06-24
- Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3564740/view/717908846920597544
- Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/where-winds-meet/releases/2026-06-24-version-1.8-dev-q-a-a-place-to-call-home

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- **added** — Introduce Homestead feature allowing players to rebuild Blissful Retreat in Qinghe with the ability to run businesses like inns, porcelain kilns, and breweries, and recruit villagers and animals as Retainers
- **added** — Introduce Beyond Mundane, a standalone Homestead zone with complete freedom to build and decorate without fixed rules
- **added** — Introduce Companion system featuring Maverick, Scar, and Pudding with multiple goose companions that follow the player and respond to interactions and dynamic weather
- **added** — Add Companion interactions including playing, chatting, sharing meals, taking photos, and unlocking new emotes and exclusive rewards as Bond grows
- **added** — Introduce limited-time event Phantom Thief Goose where players control Goose Bobo to infiltrate Heaven's Pier and complete stealth or direct tactics missions
- **added** — Introduce Tomb of Fortune mode combining ancient tomb exploration with competitive PvP for treasure hunting
- **added** — Introduce Ravening Banes 10-player PvE mode unlocked at Lv. 91 with exclusive Appearances including Decoration Gatekeeper Stele and Accessory Sweep the Heavens
- **added** — Introduce Martial Path Domain five-player mode with Normal and Hard difficulties featuring shifting Mist effects and Martial Spirit collection mechanics
- **added** — Open Hard and Abyss difficulty tiers for Guild Skyward Bond
- **changed** — Expand gameplay to include cozy slice-of-life features alongside existing combat and exploration content

Greetings, Wanderers!

The journey through the Jianghu is fraught with endless battles and challenges. Lately, we've explored new regions and stories together. But in this update, we want to show you a different side of the world.

We're introducing a place you can build from scratch, adorable cat and goose companions, and a rather chaotic goose-led adventure.

Before the official update notes arrive, we wanted to use this Q&A to chat about the cozy, slice-of-life features waiting for you.

**Q1: How does rebuilding the Homestead work when returning to Qinghe?**

You'll return to Qinghe as the Young Master to restore Blissful Retreat.

This isn't just about placing a few pieces of furniture in a courtyard. It's an entirely new lifestyle. You can run your own businesses, like an inn, a porcelain kiln, or a brewery. You can even recruit villagers and animals as Retainers, putting their unique talents to work as you bring Blissful Retreat back to life.

This update also introduces "Beyond Mundane", a standalone Homestead zone.

Think of it as your private sanctuary, completely separate from the open world. Here, you have absolute freedom to build and decorate. There are no fixed rules. Whether you envision a quiet hideaway, a bustling street, a waterside courtyard, or something wildly imaginative, you can shape this space exactly as you desire.

**Q2: What can we expect from the Companion system? Is it just a pet that follows you around?**

Traveling the Jianghu can be a lonely journey. But starting with this update, you won't have to face it alone.

The Companion system lets you cross paths with Maverick, Scar, and Pudding, with a whole flock of goose companions following close behind.

Once they join your side, caring for them is part of the fun. You can play, chat, share meals, and snap photos together. Every interaction impacts their mood and well-being. Over time, these little everyday moments will blossom into a genuine Bond.

Your Companions are more than just followers. They actively engage with the world around them. You might catch them pausing to watch a butterfly or a darting fish. They'll even react uniquely to dynamic weather like scorching heat, heavy rain, sandstorms, or snow.

As your Bond grows, you'll unlock new interactions, emotes, and exclusive rewards. Ultimately, our goal wasn't just to give you a pet. We wanted those quiet moments of companionship to evolve into a living, breathing connection that truly responds to you.

**Q3: "Phantom Thief Goose" sounds absolutely ridiculous. What exactly is it?**

It is completely ridiculous, and that's exactly why we can't wait for you to play it.

In the limited-time event "Phantom Thief Goose", you play as Goose Bobo. After passing a trial from the Goose Emperor, you'll infiltrate Heaven's Pier to stir up some chaos. No heroics, no codes of honor. Just a goose with a plan, a lot of nerve, and absolutely no chill.

Of course, the villagers won't just hand their valuables over, and the patrolling constables and martial artists aren't going to look the other way. Play it patient and tactical, or go full goose and hit fast. The choice is yours.

Luckily, Goose Bobo has a few tricks up its sleeve. Honking, pecking, and bush ambushes might sound like a joke, but in Bobo's hands (or wings), they're the most effective tactics in Qinghe.

Once you successfully secure the treasure at a stash, you can trade the Goose Feathers earned from the Goose Emperor for a variety of rewards!

**Q4: Besides the Homestead, Companions, and "Phantom Thief Goose", what else is coming in this update?**

If Homestead, Companions, and Phantom Thief Goose are the cozy side of this update, we've also got content for players who want something with a bit more edge, including a new tomb-raiding mode and multiplayer challenges that demand real teamwork.

Tomb of Fortune drops you into an ancient tomb where eerie dungeon exploration meets competitive PvP. There's treasure in those coffins, but so is t

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