HoYoverse unveils Petit Planet, a cozy cosmic life sim

HoYoverse, the developer behind Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, unveiled Petit Planet this week, a cozy "cosmic life simulation" that puts players in charge of a personal planet they can cultivate, customize and connect to others. The announcement, accompanied by a short trailer and an open sign-up for a pre-release test, marks the studio's first entry into the life-sim genre.

HoYoverse described Petit Planet as a 3D stylized life sim in which players "nurture their own worlds, connect planets, and build galaxies with the help of fuzzy Neighbors," according to the company. The publisher said routine activities will include planting, fishing, mining, crafting and cooking, alongside home and landscape customization shaped by a mechanic the developer called Luca, the planet's vitality. Social features are emphasized in the announcement, with players able to form bonds through conversations and gifts, travel on Starsea Voyages and mingle in a shared hub called the Galactic Bazaar.

The debut trailer is cinematic and does not show direct gameplay, but it depicts characters decorating homes, changing environmental colors, farming, fishing and loading a car to travel into space....