Genshin Impact Devs Unveil New Unreal Engine 5 Open-World Game
▼ Summary
– HoYoverse has announced Varsapura, a new Control-like open world game running on Unreal Engine 5, despite already managing multiple titles.
– The game features a shadowy bureau organization called SEAL, reality-bending environments, character-switching combat, and stealth action.
– It blends HoYoverse’s signature anime art style with more realistic environments, a new visual direction for the studio.
– Varsapura will be a gacha game where players obtain unique characters with distinct fighting styles, such as using paper or parasols.
– No release date has been announced, and the reveal appears aimed at recruitment, but the game’s creative direction is already well-established with extensive gameplay shown.
It might seem like HoYoverse has its hands full already, and that impression would be correct. The powerhouse developer continues to expand its portfolio beyond the massive successes of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, with recent announcements for the charming life-sim Petit Planet and the strategic Honkai Nexus Anima. Yet, the studio has still managed to unveil its next major undertaking: a sprawling open-world adventure titled Varsapura, built using the powerful Unreal Engine 5.
This new project appears to draw inspiration from titles like Control, plunging players into a mysterious narrative centered around a clandestine organization known as SEAL. A substantial 30-minute gameplay trailer offers a comprehensive look at the experience, showcasing reality-warping environments that shift between our world and a haunting shadow realm. The combat system is fast-paced and dynamic, emphasizing a fluid character-swapping mechanic reminiscent of Zenone of the studio’s other upcoming titles, Zenless Zone Zero. The trailer also hints at segments involving stealth, adding another layer to the gameplay.
Aesthetically, Varsapura presents a fascinating fusion. It retains the studio’s signature anime-inspired character designs but grounds them within far more realistic and detailed environments. This represents a notable visual departure from their previous games, creating a unique and striking atmosphere. As is tradition for the developer, each hero boasts a completely distinct combat style; one might wield attacks using discarded sheets of paper, while another employs a graceful parasol. It is widely anticipated that the final game will utilize a gacha system, where players acquire new characters through a randomized summoning process.
While the extensive gameplay preview suggests a well-defined creative vision, fans should likely prepare for a considerable wait. No release date has been announced for Varsapura. Industry observers speculate this early reveal may be strategically aimed at attracting top-tier talent to the company’s development hubs in Shanghai and Singapore. Even so, with such a substantial glimpse already available, the gaming community is eagerly anticipating further details as the project continues its development journey.
(Source: Push Square)
