HoYoverse, the powerhouse developer behind the global phenomenon Genshin Impact, appears to be venturing into uncharted territory with a new game that may significantly depart from their established anime-inspired aesthetic. Recent job listings uncovered by industry watchers suggest the studio is developing a title with more realistic character designs and possibly alien or monster elements, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 technology.

The Shanghai-based developer has experienced meteoric success since Genshin Impact's 2020 launch, establishing itself as one of gaming's most influential companies. With Genshin Impact Version 5.4 continuing to dominate the gacha market in early 2025 and Honkai: Star Rail maintaining strong player engagement two years after its release, HoYoverse appears ready to expand its portfolio in bold new directions.

Job Listings Reveal New Direction

The recently posted positions specifically seek 3D character designers with expertise in realistic character and monster production. Key requirements include:

  • Strong understanding of muscle anatomy

  • Experience modeling humanoid and alien monsters

  • Proficiency with Unreal Engine (likely UE5)

  • Minimum two years in 3D game development

  • Mastery of industry-standard software including 3DMax, MAYA, ZBrush, and Substance Painter

Perhaps most tellingly, HoYoverse explicitly states a preference for candidates who are "AAA gaming enthusiasts," suggesting ambitions to compete with major Western and Japanese studios in the high-budget realistic game space.

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Breaking New Ground

This potential shift toward realism marks a significant departure for HoYoverse, whose existing titles—Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Zenless Zone Zero—all feature stylized anime-inspired visuals. The emphasis on monster design and alien creatures further hints at a possible sci-fi horror direction or perhaps a more mature action title.

"HoYoverse appears to be positioning itself to compete directly with studios like FromSoftware, Shift Up, and other developers creating realistic action experiences," notes industry analyst Maya Chen. "After dominating the anime-styled gacha market, they may be looking to prove they can succeed in different genres and visual styles."

The company's existing games have generated billions in revenue since 2020, providing substantial resources to fund ambitious new projects. With their proven live service expertise and growing global development teams, could HoYoverse become the next Asian developer to challenge Western AAA dominance?

Market Positioning

The timing of this development is particularly interesting given recent industry shifts. The success of titles like Stellar Blade in 2024 demonstrated strong global demand for high-quality action games from Asian developers featuring realistic character models. Meanwhile, the long-anticipated Lost Soul Aside finally launched to critical acclaim in late 2024, further validating this market segment.

What remains unclear is whether HoYoverse's new project will maintain the free-to-play gacha mechanics that have defined their business model or pivot toward a premium pricing structure more common among AAA realistic titles.

Still Early in Development

Sources familiar with HoYoverse's operations suggest this project is still in early development, with a potential release window no earlier than 2027. The studio continues to actively support its existing games, with Genshin Impact's Natlan region having expanded significantly throughout 2024 and early 2025.

Industry insiders note that this unannounced title appears separate from HoYoverse's previously rumored Animal Crossing-inspired casual game, which reportedly remains in development at a different internal team.

With HoYoverse's track record of secrecy around new projects, official announcements may still be years away. However, given the company's prominence, leaks seem inevitable. The gaming community has consistently uncovered details about Genshin Impact and other HoYoverse titles long before official reveals.

As the developer continues expanding its global footprint with new studios in Singapore, Montreal, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, one question remains on everyone's mind: Can HoYoverse translate their expertise in stylized anime games to the highly competitive realistic AAA space, or will they find themselves struggling to match the visual fidelity and combat depth that genre fans expect? Perhaps more importantly—do they even need to when their existing formula has proven so extraordinarily successful?