Pawprint Studio, based in Singapore, is a developer whose debut title, Animo, a free-to-play open-world monster-collecting RPG, is set to launch on September 16, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with iOS and Android versions following on September 23.
Pawprint Studio's debut project, Animo, moved through a clear pipeline in mid-2026. Registration for the closed beta test opened in early July, the beta ran from July 9, and the studio brought a playable demo to Bilibili World 2026 in Shanghai, held July 10-12. By late August, the studio had announced at gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 that Animo would launch on September 16, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with mobile versions for iOS and Android following on September 23.
The studio's positioning is consistent across all three stories: Animo is free-to-play with item-based monetization, and its defining feature is a creature-inhabiting mechanic. Earlier coverage called it the Link system; the later trailer coverage calls it Twining. Both describe the same core idea: players merge with an Animo to control it directly, shifting combat from turn-based to real-time and enabling exploration of terrain a human character cannot cross. The game is set in the world of Idyll, with over 200 Animo types and regions such as Driftwise Meadow, Sandcastle Hill, and Rosetower Wood.
The stories agree on the multiplatform release and the 2026 window, but they differ on the exact platform list. The July stories name PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android, with no PC. The August story names PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with iOS and Android following a week later. The CBT registration story also mentions the Anipod capture device and Animon abilities, which later stories do not revisit.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Aug 27
Pawprint Studio announced at gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 that the free-to-play creature-collecting open-world RPG Animo will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on September 16, 2026, with iOS and Android versions following on September 23. A new trailer accompanied the announcement. The game is set in the world of Idyll, where magical creatures called Animo live. Players explore, capture, raise, and evolve over 200 types of Animo, which appear in different forms depending on weather and biome. A central mechanic is Twining, which fuses players with Animo to explore from the creature's perspective, use its abilities in battle, and experience Animo society. The world includes regions such as Driftwise Meadow, an emotion-based ecosystem, the scorching Sandcastle Hill, and the lush Rosetower Wood. Game modes include PvP modes like Egg Heist, cooperative play in the open world, and Homeland, where players farm, harvest, and decorate with Animo. The game also offers amusement park rides and facilities powered by Animo, extending beyond adventure.
Jul 15
Singapore-based Pawprint Studio brought a playable demo of its monster-collection RPG Animo to Bilibili World 2026, held July 10-12 in Shanghai. The game, which began a closed beta test in Japan on July 9, is set for release within 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android. Animo is an open-world RPG where players capture creatures called Animo and fight alongside them, carrying up to four at a time. Its defining feature is the Link system, which lets players merge with an Animo and control it directly. In this linked state, combat becomes real-time rather than turn-based, as players manually use the Animo's skills and dodge attacks. The system also aids exploration: linking with an Animo allows swimming and climbing across treacherous terrains that are difficult for a human character. Developers plan to expand Ecology Areas tied to the Link system, where each Animo has unique background details and rivalries that players can only discover by inhabiting the creature. Animo is free-to-play with item-based monetization. The demo at BW2026 was reportedly close to the final version, with six demo units consistently occupied.
Jul 2
Pawprint Studio, based in Singapore, has opened closed beta test registration for its debut title Animo, an open-world monster-collecting RPG. The CBT runs from July 9, 2026, with registration closing July 5. The game is scheduled for a 2026 free-to-play release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android. A media preview showed real-time action battles, creature capture via Anipod, and environmental puzzles using Animon abilities.