Summary
- Honkai: Star Rail has not reached its full potential and will take years to achieve it, according to lead game designer Chengnan An.
- The current Amphoreus story arc will span across eight versions until the 3.7 update.
- The game's lead designer hinted that the next explorable planet is in development.
Honkai: Star Rail lead game designer Chengnan An has shared that the RPG has not reached its full potential yet, and it will take years to achieve this. As one of HoYoverse's most popular games, Honkai: Star Rail continues to draw in millions of dollars in revenue with every update as it releases new characters and content.
When the turn-based RPG Honkai: Star Rail first launched in April 2023, it quickly became a massive hit with 20 million downloads in one day. It is part of HoYoverse's Honkai series, which also includes some of the studio's earliest titles, like FlyMe2TheMoon, Houkai Gakuen, and Honkai Impact 3rd. The latter is the direct predecessor to Honkai: Star Rail, though the Astral Express' story is a brand-new adventure. Honkai: Star Rail will soon launch its 3.3 update, wrapping up its anniversary patch in the process. Now, the game's lead designer has commented on the RPG's future plans.
Honkai: Star Rail 3.3's New Relic Sets Explained
Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 will release brand new Relic sets, which could be geared for upcoming sustain and damage characters.
In an interview with IGN, Honkai: Star Rail lead game designer Chengnan An said that there is still a lot in store for the gacha title. "Honkai: Star Rail presents an incredibly vast and intricate galaxy to explore," said An when asked about the game's fate. "To be honest, to fully realize its potential is a long-term endeavor that extends far beyond just a few years." He also revealed that the current Amphoreus story arc will spread across eight versions until the 3.7 update. According to An, the development team usually begins working on a playable world more than a year in advance, which would mean that Honkai: Star Rail's next explorable planet is already in production. On the other hand, when asked about the game's potential release on more platforms, the game designer did not confirm an Xbox or Nintendo Switch launch.
Honkai: Star Rail Has a Long Way to GO, According to Lead Game Designer
Aside from Honkai: Star Rail's future plans, An also commented on the game's trajectory. He shared that while the RPG was launched in 2023, its development actually started in 2019. The developer revealed that the creation of Honkai: Star Rail was "a natural evolution" for the Honkai series, combining the saga's already established "strong storytelling, deep character interactions, and engaging combat" with turn-based gameplay mechanics. However, he added that Honkai: Star Rail is HoYoverse's first attempt at exploring science-fiction concepts.
The lead game designer did not confirm whether the Honkai series could release another title in the future, but HoYoverse did announce a new Pokemon-like game earlier in May. Its latest trailer featured characters from both Honkai: Star Rail and Honkai Impact 3rd, and previous rumors teased that it might be called Nexus Anima. While fans wait for more information about the mysterious game, they can look forward to Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 on May 21, which will add the fan-favorite characters Cypher and Hyacine to the playable roster.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- April 26, 2023
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
WHERE TO PLAY
They call them, "Aeons" in this galaxy. They construct reality, erase stars, and leave their marks on countless worlds. Together with your companions you'll travel across the galaxy on the Astral Express, following the path once traveled by the Aeons. From here, you will explore new civilizations, meet new comrades, and begin new adventures among countless fantastical worlds. All the answers you seek will be uncovered among the stars.
Well what're you waiting for? Are you ready to begin this trailblazing journey?
Honkai: Star Rail is a new HoYoverse space fantasy RPG. Hop aboard the Astral Express and experience the galaxy's infinite wonders filled with adventure and thrills.
Players will meet new companions across various worlds and maybe even run into some familiar faces. Overcome the struggles together caused by Stellaron and unravel the hidden truths behind it! May this journey lead us starward!
- Engine
- Unity
- Cross-Platform Play
- Limited
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Turn-Based RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 83 hours
