HoYoverse Announces A New Life Sim "Petit Planet"
HoYoverse, the studio best known for the open-world RPG Genshin Impact and the sci-fi hit Honkai: Star Rail, is stepping away from flashy combat and into cozier territory with Petit Planet. The newly announced life simulation game is heading to PC and mobile, and the first “Coziness Test” closed beta is now taking sign-ups. This announcement comes after HoYoverse announced another new game, Honkai: Nexus Anima last month.
Life sims have had a resurgence in recent years thanks to games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley. Other games like Palia have also attempted to capitalize on the growing trend of "Cozy" games. HoYoverse’s entry keeps the laid-back routine featuring farming, fishing, decorating, but adds a cosmic twist that lets players cultivate an entire planet and link up with others across a stylized galaxy.
Petit Planet Key Features:
- Create and personalize a small planet, then connect it to neighboring worlds to build a custom galaxy.
- Take part in everyday activities: planting, fishing, cooking, mining, and crafting.
- Customize almost everything—from character outfits to the look of skies, beaches, and grasslands.
- Befriend roaming “Neighbors,” each with their own personalities and side stories.
- Hop aboard a vehicle for “Starsea Voyages” that uncover new islets, creatures, and recipes.
- Meet other players in the Galactic Bazaar, a shared social hub with events and mini-games.
- The closed beta, dubbed the Coziness Test, is open for registration on the official site.
This is HoYoverse’s first crack at the life-sim genre, but given HoYoverse's success with previous titles and industry credibility with releasing high quality titles, I suspect Petit Planet will be well received.
For now, players curious about gardening on a galactic scale can sign up for the closed beta and see how HoYoverse’s signature polish translates to something more mellow. No word on when closed beta begins just yet, but the FAQ mentions it'll only be open to those on PC and iOS.
Further reading: Official website
