MiHoYo Teases New Honkai Game with Pokémon-like Creature-Battling Feature

Surprise teaser hints at monster-collecting gameplay with fan-favorite characters Kiana and Blade

miHoYo has pulled back the curtain on a new entry in the Honkai universe with a surprise teaser revealed during the Honkai: Star Rail Concert 2025 in Shanghai.

Though brief, the footage has already stirred up considerable speculation within the gaming community thanks to its unexpected concept and familiar faces.

The teaser features two prominent characters, Kiana from Honkai Impact 3rd and Blade from Honkai: Star Rail, gearing up for what appears to be a creature-based battle system—a notable shift in gameplay that has drawn comparisons to Pokémon-style monster collecting.

A New Chapter: Honkai Goes Creature Battling?

While miHoYo has yet to confirm the game's official title, trademark filings suggest it may be called "Honkai: Nexus Anima." According to Gematsu, the name has been registered in multiple key regions including the United States, Europe, and Korea, with related social media handles like @HonkaiNA already secured in markets such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Germany, and France.

Fans React: “Kiana and Blade with funky Pokémon?”

The teaser’s surprise tone has led to an explosion of reactions across fan forums and social media. One popular Reddit comment summed it up with humor and confusion:

“What is going on? Kiana and Blade with some funky Pokémon, this looks hilarious.”

The unexpected pairing of characters from different Honkai titles—and the hint of creature-based mechanics—has created buzz around whether the game will unify elements from Guns Girl Z (GGZ), Honkai Impact 3rd, and Honkai: Star Rail under one IP umbrella.

Franchise Crossover, Financial Potential

For many, the idea of miHoYo blending character-driven storytelling with creature collection represents both a bold creative move and a lucrative business opportunity. As one fan noted:

“Pokémon and Hoyo games are two of the most powerful money-generating IPs on the planet. I can’t even begin to imagine the sheer force of both of them combined.”

The teaser ends with mysterious silhouettes, prompting theories about which other characters might appear. Some fans claim to have spotted possible appearances from Ifa or Aventurine, adding to the growing anticipation.

This reveal comes as miHoYo continues expanding its game portfolio. The company's recent release, Zenless Zone Zero, received mixed initial impressions but is still able to get over $250 million in gross revenue on mobile in 7 months. The game is now expanding to consoles with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming port coming this June.

So far, miHoYo has not confirmed a release window or additional gameplay details. The company has simply urged fans to “stay tuned” for future updates.

Given miHoYo’s track record with global hits like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, any new project within the Honkai universe is bound to generate significant attention. Whether Honkai: Nexus Anima becomes the next major entry—or spins off into something entirely new—remains to be seen.