Pawprint Interactive Entertainment is preparing to launch its free-to-play open-world creature-collecting RPG Animo on September 16, 2026, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Android, and iOS. Pre-orders are open for the PS5 and Xbox versions, and the game is free after launch.
Pawprint Interactive Entertainment is a studio whose first known project is Animo, a free-to-play open-world creature-collecting RPG. The studio announced the game's launch date on August 13, 2026, via the PlayStation Blog and the official PlayStation Japan account. Animo will release on September 16 at 11:00 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Android, and iOS. The game is free after launch, with paid pre-order packs covering bonus content only.
The core mechanic is linking with creatures called Animo to borrow their forms and abilities, which enables actions like crossing water and flying during exploration and combat. Animo can branch-evolve into different forms depending on habitat, weather, and how players raise them. The game also includes base-building elements and multiplayer interaction.
Earlier, on June 7, 2026, the studio opened signups for its first Japanese closed beta test for Animo, recruiting players on PC, Android, and iOS. The beta was positioned as a hands-on opportunity for Japanese players to test the monster-transformation and multiplayer mechanics ahead of the 2026 release. The studio has not announced any other projects.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Aug 13
Pawprint Interactive Entertainment will launch the free-to-play open-world creature-collecting RPG Animo on September 16 at 11:00. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Android, and iOS. The announcement came through the PlayStation Blog and the official PlayStation Japan account on August 13, 2026, alongside the opening of pre-orders for the PS5 version.
The core mechanic involves linking with creatures called Animo to borrow their forms and abilities, enabling actions like crossing water and flying during exploration and combat. Animo can branch-evolve into different forms depending on habitat, weather, and how players raise them. The game also includes base-building elements and multiplayer interaction.
Pre-order exclusive packs are available on the PlayStation Store: the Advance Edition Pre-order Limited Pack at 1,500 yen and the Collection Edition Pre-order Limited Pack at 3,000 yen. Both include the in-game accessory Mofunezumi Buddy and the Companion Note pass. The Xbox version offers a pre-order exclusive Doggo Dude accessory reward. The game itself is free after launch, so the packs cover bonus content only.
Jun 7
Pawprint Interactive Entertainment announced its first Japanese closed beta test for the open-world monster collection ARPG Animo. Recruitment is open for PC, Android, and iOS. The free-to-play title launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Android, and iOS in 2026.