From open-world exploration and turn-based gameplay to hack-and-slash action, HoYoverse has done it all. But the Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd maker isn’t done dipping its toes in diversification, with the soon-to-be-released Petit Planet set to be its first foray into the cosy life-sim genre.
Announced during a special programme for the free-to-play game, it will release globally on PC, iOS, and Android on 4 December and support cross-platform progression. The accompanying trailer offers an extended look at its core mechanics, including home decor and customisation features (more than 1,000 types of clothing and furniture items are available), planet exploration, mini-games involving fishing and cooking, and character interactions that carry their own stories. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2027.
“Players take on the role of Planet Tenders, journeying to the Starsea on the back of Oumuamua, a Starsea Spirit said to listen to the wishes in people’s hearts. On their very own planet, they plant a Luca Seed that gradually grows into a Luca Arbor, shaping
the planet’s landscape, seasons, and ecosystem over time. Life on the planet is never lonely,” reads the official description.
“Planet Coordinator Mobai and Starsea Racer Elsasani are the first to welcome each Planet Tender to their new home, with more Neighbours arriving over time, each with their own stories to tell. As players get to know their Neighbours, chance encounters can blossom into lasting friendships. Beyond life on their home planet, players can set sail across the Starsea to explore its scattered Islets, or head to the Galactic Bazaar to enjoy games, take part in auctions, and share their creations.”
To celebrate the game’s launch, HoYoverse has prepared a series of events and rewards, including a pre-registration lucky draw, the “Besties, Made to Match!” event, where players who team up with two friends to pre-register will each receive an exclusive clothing item, and the “Launch a Planet” initiative that invites them to design their own planets for a chance to win prizes.
Petit Planet is now open for pre-registration on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Epic Games Store. It will come to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, after a 4 December global debut on PC, iOS, and Android. Alongside the cosy galactic title, the company is also working on Varsapura, an open-world RPG set in Singapore; creature-collector Honkai Nexus Anima, which ran its first closed beta last September; and Nodusfall, a dark-fantasy project that represents a shift from standard HoYoverse fare.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
