HoYoverse dropped a teaser for their next project, and it’s not what anyone expected. Instead of another sprawling RPG like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, or Zenless Zone Zero, the studio is making a cozy simulation game called Petit Planet.
The teaser runs under 20 seconds but packs plenty of charm. A small round pet bounces happily through a grassy patch filled with mushrooms before the Petit Planet logo takes over the screen. Short and sweet, but enough to get people talking.
This marks a major departure from HoYoverse’s usual formula, and the timing feels deliberate.
What We Know From Leaks and Reports
Chatter about this mystery project started back in June 2023, when leaks hinted HoYoverse was working on something more casual. People immediately started comparing it to Nintendo’s Animal Crossing.
By March 2025, more reports surfaced describing the game as a life simulation featuring anthropomorphic animals with heavy focus on user-generated content. That description lines up perfectly with what we’re seeing in the teaser.
The working title was apparently Astaweave Haven before multiple official social media accounts switched to Petit Planet. Trademark filings had already suggested the name change was coming.
Art Style Screams Animal Crossing
The teaser’s visual approach leans heavily into Animal Crossing territory – rounded trees, waterfalls, and cute creature design that feels instantly familiar to anyone who’s spent time with Nintendo’s life sim series.
This represents a complete visual shift from HoYoverse’s typically detailed, anime-inspired RPG aesthetics. The simplified, charming art style suggests they’re targeting a different audience entirely.
The Big Gacha Question
HoYoverse built their reputation on gacha mechanics, so the obvious question remains: will Petit Planet include gacha systems? The current vibe feels much more relaxed than the studio’s usual monetization-heavy catalog.
Given the life simulation genre and Animal Crossing comparisons, traditional gacha might not fit. But HoYoverse being HoYoverse, they’ll probably find creative ways to generate revenue that match the cozy simulation experience.
Part of a Broader Genre Expansion
The Petit Planet reveal comes right after HoYoverse announced Honkai: Nexus Anima, a creature-collecting autochess title. These announcements signal the studio is actively exploring genres beyond their gacha RPG comfort zone.
This diversification strategy makes business sense. While their existing games continue performing well, branching into different genres helps capture new audiences and reduces dependence on a single game type.
The simulation game market has proven there’s appetite for relaxing, creative experiences that don’t require intense daily engagement like traditional mobile RPGs.