HoYoverse is actively developing multiple projects across its existing live-service games and upcoming titles, with new content updates and beta tests in progress.
HoYoverse's portfolio of live-service games continues to receive regular content updates. Genshin Impact's Luna VIII update, titled "Return to Summer! Shadows? Spirit Festival!," adds the Fatui Harbinger Sandrone as a playable 5-star Cryo character, new outfits for Citlali and Charlotte, and a spaceship for aerial exploration across Teyvat. The update launches July 1, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. Zenless Zone Zero expanded its platform reach with a Steam release on June 17, 2026, coinciding with Version 3.0, which introduces two new S-rank agents and visual upgrades including ray tracing. The Steam version supports cross-play and cross-save, and shortly after launch recorded a peak concurrent player count of approximately 13,000 with "Very Positive" user reviews. Honkai: Star Rail's Version 4.4 preview program on July 3 will detail the new 5-star character Himeko・Departure and the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration update.
Beyond its established titles, HoYoverse is advancing two new games. Honkai: Nexus Anima, an auto-chess strategy game set in the Honkai universe, will run a second closed beta test called the Evolution Test from July 9 on PC, iOS, and Android. A new trailer showed returning characters Kiana and Blade. Varsapura, first announced in November 2025 with a 31-minute gameplay demo, has begun recruiting testers for a confidentiality test in China via TapTap. The game features a female protagonist from an organization called SEAL investigating supernatural phenomena in a modern city, with action combat and a plastic umbrella as a weapon. Platforms and a release date for Varsapura have not been announced.
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HoYoverse released character details and a promotional video for Nanafi, a girl from the town of Iatown who dreams of traveling between dimensions, voiced by Saho Shirasuna. The closed beta test, the Evolution Test, began on July 9, 2026.
HoYoverse has begun recruiting testers for a confidentiality test of its upcoming game Varsapura in China. The test was announced on the Chinese game distribution platform TapTap, with recruitment starting July 2. The test period has not yet been disclosed. Varsapura was first announced in November 2025 with a 31-minute gameplay demo. The game features a female protagonist who belongs to an organization called SEAL and investigates supernatural phenomena. Its visual style blends anime aesthetics with a more realistic look, set in a modern city with offices and buildings. Gameplay footage showed driving through the city, suggesting an open world, and action combat against humanoid and jellyfish-like monsters. The protagonist wields a plastic umbrella as a weapon, which can be swung, thrown like a blade, and used to spray water for supernatural attacks. Players can switch between team members, including a senior SEAL member who fights with document files and a punk-styled girl who uses an iron ball. Platforms and a release date have not been announced. An official X account has been opened.
HoYoverse will broadcast the Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4 preview program on July 3 at 20:30 JST. The stream will detail the new 5-star character Himeko・Departure, voiced by Rie Tanaka, and the Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration update.
HoYoverse will run a second closed beta test for its new auto-chess strategy game Honkai: Nexus Anima, called the Evolution Test, from July 9 on PC, iOS, and Android. Participant recruitment runs from June 22 to July 4, with selection by lottery from applicants who complete pre-registration and a survey. The test deletes all data after it ends. Alongside the announcement, HoYoverse released a new trailer titled Evolution PV 'Until the Day We Meet' and gameplay footage. The video shows multiple new characters, including Kiana and Blade, who are returning from earlier Honkai series entries. Honkai: Nexus Anima is the latest game in the Honkai franchise, following Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail. It is an auto-chess-style title where players collect and battle creatures called Anima. The Evolution Test is meant to expand on the core systems and story, adding new characters, Anima, areas, and game design elements.
HoYoverse announced new outfits for Citlali and Charlotte in the Luna VIII update of Genshin Impact, set for release on July 1, 2026. Citlali's outfit, "Star and Smoke Night Talk," shows her in casual pajamas, while Charlotte's outfit, "Harlock Variation," is a detective-style look. Citlali's outfit will be sold in the in-game shop, and Charlotte's outfit will be a free reward from the new "Spirit Shadow Festival" event, where players can also obtain the 4-star character Charlotte herself. The Luna VIII update, titled "Return to Summer! Shadows? Spirit Festival!," also introduces the Fatui Harbinger Sandrone as a playable 5-star Cryo character, alongside a rerun for Citlali. New gameplay features include a spaceship for aerial exploration across Teyvat and a floor display function for maps. The update will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
HoYoverse released the Steam version of its urban fantasy action RPG Zenless Zone Zero on June 17, 2026. The game is free-to-play with item-based monetization. It was previously available on PlayStation 5, PC via HoYoPlay and Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, Android, and iOS. The Steam version supports cross-play and cross-save, allowing players to transfer their existing account data. The launch coincides with Version 3.0, titled "Confessions of a Dream Player," which introduces two new S-rank agents: wind-element Verina and fire-element Normu. The PC version received a visual upgrade including ray tracing, DLSS super resolution, and frame generation. Shortly after release, the Steam version recorded a peak concurrent player count of approximately 13,000, according to SteamDB. User reviews on Steam are "Very Positive" with about 900 reviews and 90% positive rating. Many reviews come from players who previously played on other platforms and expressed satisfaction with the Steam release.
HoYoverse announced on June 16 that it will stream the "Genshin Impact Luna VIII Preview Program" on June 18 at 21:00 JST. The program will feature voice actors Mariko Honda, who voices Sandrone, and Lynn, who voices Columbina, as guests. The announcement thumbnail shows Sandrone and Columbina against a background that appears to be Fontaine, and also previews new costumes for the characters Charlotte and Citlali. The broadcast will air on Thursday, a departure from the usual Friday schedule for these preview programs. The Luna VIII update is the next major version before a significant update, and past previews before major updates have introduced limited-time maps such as the Golden Apple Archipelago and Veluriyam Mirage, as well as new costumes. The program will be streamed on the official Genshin Impact YouTube channel and official X account. Genshin Impact is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android as a free-to-play title with in-app purchases.