HoYoverse is expanding into new genres by introducing a life simulation game featuring AI and social functions and a strategy game focused on raising creatures. It aims to move away from its RPG-centered portfolio and offer new play experiences such as user interaction and collecting and raising.

HoYoverse Korea held a media briefing on Nov. 6 and unveiled key content and release plans for new titles "Petit Planet" and "Honkai: Nexus Anima". Attendees included Hwang Ran, head of HoYoverse Korea, Seven, CEO of global business, and Sam, global PR communications lead.

Seven said, "So far we have dealt with grand narratives like the fate of the galaxy and saving the world." He said, "Petit Planet instead focuses on smaller, everyday stories."

The two games seek to differentiate themselves from existing titles in different ways. Petit Planet focuses on creating a personal daily life and interacting with other users rather than achieving preset goals. Honkai: Nexus Anima highlights a combat system built around collecting and raising mysterious creatures and combining them strategically.

Petit Planet to launch in December; stronger AI NPC and social functions

Petit Planet, set for a global launch on Dec. 4, is HoYoverse's first planet life simulation game. It will be released on PC and mobile platforms. Users can become "Star Keepers" to decorate their own planet and interact with other users.

The game offers a range of lifestyle content including farming, fishing, gathering, building and interior design. Users can grow a "Luka Tree" with "Luka" earned through activities, expanding areas of the planet such as new farmland, mountains and rivers.

Interaction among users is also a core feature. In the "Galaxy Market," multiple users can gather to talk, dance and share photos. Users can also enjoy the social space by watching other users without directly participating in activities.

HoYoverse in particular strengthened interactions with in-game characters by using AI. A key feature is that NPCs are designed to remember users' actions and respond accordingly.

Murphy (머피), planning lead for Petit Planet, pointed to interaction with NPCs as the content that received the best evaluation in earlier tests.

Murphy said, "It received good evaluations for NPCs remembering users' actions and showing personalized responses." He said, "We are adjusting how often NPCs approach first so introverted users do not feel burdened by social activities."

The developers also plan to reflect feedback calling for NPCs with clearer personalities in future development. The aim is to strengthen interaction with NPCs while reducing the burden users may feel from social activity.

It also unveiled personal information protection measures tied to the use of AI. Yinli Huang (인리 황), art lead for Petit Planet, explained that it complies with relevant laws in each country and applies a principle of minimizing collection of personal information. Users can request access to, correction of and deletion of personal information, and can also switch off AI functions in the game.

It also applied protection functions for minors. It provides settings that allow guardians to restrict social functions, and it is designed to reduce unwanted interactions through functions such as distinguishing between friends and unfamiliar users.

It also said it will provide a basic game experience regardless of whether users pay. Murphy explained that overall gameplay is possible without making paid purchases, and interaction with NPCs and neighbor content are also provided for free. Specific paid product offerings were not disclosed on the day.

It is also planning a function to share user-generated content. The idea is for users to share furniture or layout blueprints they created on "Planetgram" so other users can download them and use them on their own planets.

Honkai: Nexus Anima combines collecting and raising with strategic combat

Honkai: Nexus Anima, unveiled alongside it, is a new title in HoYoverse's "Honkai" series. It is an adventure strategy game in which users collect and raise mysterious creatures called "Anima," combining exploration and strategic combat.

The game unfolds around the "bond" between humans and Anima. Users explore various regions including "Iya Village," build relationships with Anima, and meet figures from different factions to learn stories hidden in the world.

There are also various ways to obtain Anima. In addition to winning battles or completing missions, users can encounter them by chance during exploration or form bonds with rare Anima by completing certain challenge content. Collected Anima can evolve into new forms through raising and synergy enhancement.

In combat, Anima fight automatically, and synergy effects are activated when users deploy a certain number or more of Anima that share the same principles. The higher the synergy grade, the stronger the effect. Users can also deploy up to 3 characters and use skills, meaning combinations of Anima and characters affect battle strategy.

Another feature is a system in which the story's progression and ending change depending on users' choices. Hwang said implementing story branching based on choices is not easy in a live service game, but this title decided to try it.

HoYoverse will hold a final beta test for Honkai: Nexus Anima on Nov. 25 and is aiming for an official release in spring 2027.

Two new titles to be shown first at G-Star; focus on gathering user feedback

HoYoverse will take part in "G-Star 2026," to be held at BEXCO in Busan from Nov. 19 to 22, with a scale of 100 booths. At the venue, it will show Petit Planet and Honkai: Nexus Anima to domestic users for the first time.

It will also hold events for existing game users, including booth events for "Zenless Zone Zero" and stage programs for "Genshin Impact" and "Honkai: Star Rail."

HoYoverse will meet users with a focus on new titles this time, after holding an event for existing fans called "Hoyoland" in Korea last month. The aim is to check actual user reactions through the first domestic hands-on demos of the two new titles.

Hwang said, "If Hoyoland was a festival for existing fans, we decided to participate in this G-Star to show differentiated new titles to Korean users." He said, "We plan to focus on what feedback users give rather than the number of visitors or demo players."