Honkai: Nexus Anima Confirms Spring 2027 Launch, Paid Beta This Month

miHoYo's first creature-collecting RPG Honkai: Nexus Anima gets a Spring 2027 release window and a paid closed beta on November 25, with a new PV and gameplay footage showing off its gacha system and overworld.

miHoYo just dropped a big one. Honkai: Nexus Anima, the studio's first foray into creature-collecting RPG territory, is officially launching in Spring 2027 — and yes, that timing is no accident. 2027 marks the 15th anniversary of the Honkai IP, so expect the nostalgia dial to be turned all the way up.

The announcement came today (November 5, 2026) alongside a fresh PV titled "Destiny Vapor" and a chunk of raw gameplay footage. Buried at the end of that video was the real bombshell: the official Spring 2027 public launch window. Before that, though, a paid closed beta dubbed the "Happiness Test" kicks off on November 25 across PC, mobile, and cloud gaming.

Let's talk about the gacha, because miHoYo is trying something different here. The game introduces a "limited first-bond guarantee" system — your first 5-star character or creature pulled from the relevant banners is guaranteed to be the current limited unit. Even better, the first time you snag a 5-star character, you get their companion creature for free. That's a pretty player-friendly twist on the usual gacha formula.

The beta also brings a pile of new faces. Honkai fans will recognize alternate versions of Blade, Herrscher of Sentience (going by Lufei here), Otto, and Kiana, alongside brand-new characters like Gloria (who apparently lives on junk food), loli council president Juri, and Hyperion of the competition council. You'll also run into plenty of shiny variant creatures and baby forms that grow alongside you.

Creature bonding gets more tactile too — holding hands, hugging, getting lifted up by your creatures, and more interaction details unlock as you play. Your home base is a camper van you can retreat to anytime, and you can build habitats for your creatures while exploring. The first plane you visit also expands with new map tiles as the story progresses.

Combat gets an upgrade with the new "Nexus Arena," where you can freely mix up your team and climb the ranks against matched opponents. The overworld and challenge stages are also getting tougher enemies for players who want a real fight. And the creature design philosophy goes way beyond animals — plants, food, weather, even emotions (called "Yuanli" in-game) can inspire a creature. Each interaction animation is custom-made per creature and character, because with all those unique models and outfits, you can't exactly copy-paste.

The beta footage also shows off day-night cycles, new rainy weather, and a living city where creatures work jobs, prank passersby, and get drawn to the habitats you build. Every shop has its own creature theme and mirrors real-life functionality almost one-to-one. On top of that, quests are open-ended — speedrun them or take your time exploring branches and tweaking stats.

So, are you planning to jump into the Happiness Test on November 25, or waiting for the full Spring 2027 launch? Let us know which creature you're most hyped to bond with.