Discover the Essentials of Petit Planet, HoYo’s Life Simulation Game Inspired by Animal Crossing

HoYoverse has been on a roll with announcements lately, and right after unveiling Honkai: Nexus Anima, they’ve introduced Petit Planet. This adorable, Animal Crossing-inspired life sim takes us to a charming corner of the galaxy. It seems like there’s a delightful theme emerging here.

In Petit Planet, you get to create and nurture your own little slice of the universe. As you progress, new neighbors arrive, each contributing to the growth of your world. Your friendships will influence how your planet evolves, and you’ll engage in everyday activities like gardening, crafting, and decorating while watching your cosmic community flourish. Here’s everything we know about Petit Planet, from beta dates to neighbor details.

I had the chance to dive into 15 hours of Petit Planet during a preview build, and I was just as captivated by it as HoYoverse seems to be by Animal Crossing. The similarities are striking—almost scene-for-scene and feature-for-feature. However, as you play, it starts to carve out its own identity. I’ve updated this page with all the latest insights from the preview build.

Currently, there’s no release date for Petit Planet. HoYoverse hasn’t provided a general timeframe yet, but a reliable source claims the game is in its final development stages, and we can expect official news and marketing soon.

This likely means Petit Planet won’t follow the usual three beta tests before an official launch that HoYoverse has used for its previous titles. It’s currently wrapping up its second beta, so we might see a release date announcement after that concludes. We’ll have to wait and see if the source continues to deliver accurate leaks.

Astaweave Haven was never officially confirmed, but a report hinted at social media accounts in China that suggested something might have existed under that name. Sharp-eyed fans on social media later noticed that Astaweave accounts were renamed to Petit Planet, leading to the assumption that it was a temporary title.

The second Petit Planet beta kicked off on April 21 for PC, iOS, and Android. However, it’s a closed beta, so access is limited to those who received an invitation and download link via their sign-up email. Remember, you can only play on one device during the beta.

If you didn’t get selected for this round, don’t worry! You might still have a chance to participate in future playtests by signing up for Petit Planet’s ‘Staycation Program,’ which offers long-term testing opportunities through small-scale, closed, and confidential sessions.

You can pre-register for Petit Planet now on the game’s official website. So far, the only known reward is the Bestie Star-Light lamp, but it’s likely more rewards will be announced later. While HoYoverse typically offers freebies after launch, it hasn’t been confirmed for Petit Planet, so waiting until launch might mean missing out.

The first trailer for Petit Planet premiered during the 2025 Tokyo Game Show. If you’re familiar with a certain cozy life sim from Nintendo, you’ll find HoYoverse’s project strikingly familiar. I found myself exclaiming, “Oh my god, that’s just like Animal Crossing!” repeatedly, and I mean that in the best way—Animal Crossing is one of the reasons I still have a Switch.

The trailer showcased charming woodland creatures, resource gathering, and social interactions with other players.

In the latest trailer for Petit Planet’s second beta, we got a glimpse of new neighbors, but it mainly serves to remind us just how adorable the game is. Plus, the signature stellar HoYo soundtrack makes a welcome return, hinting at the relaxing tunes we’ll be humming along to in the future.

There’s still no information on how Petit Planet will be monetized, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that HoYoverse opts out of the gacha system. Please, HoYoverse, I need this! I’m tired of calculating which anime character I can afford with each update.

Instead of calling them villagers, Petit Planet refers to its cute inhabitants as “neighbors.” As you enhance your world, neighbors can connect their home planets to yours, deepening your friendships.

Building relationships with your neighbors involves “daily activities to unlock deeper connections,” which include gift-giving, regular chats, and unique interactions. The few we’ve seen so far are incredibly charming, but I’m hoping for more variety. Someone has to bring back the sassy characters we love since Nintendo isn’t doing it.

With the second beta underway, we know of 13 neighbors in Petit Planet so far:

These include a mix of mainstay NPCs (think of Mobai as your Tom Nook and Mors as your Blathers) and recruitable residents (like those I catch with a net until they leave).

It’s not just about making friends; Petit Planet features many elements found in other life sims and their counterparts like Hello Kitty Island Adventure or Disney Dreamlight Valley. However, Animal Crossing is clearly the main inspiration, with plenty of familiar features, such as:

Activities that differ from Animal Crossing include:

There may be more multiplayer features added in future betas, but for now, multiplayer in Petit Planet is divided into two modes: the Galactic Bazaar social hub and exploring other players’ planets.

In the Galactic Bazaar, you can team up with others to play instruments, engage in dance battles, trade items, and chat outdoors or in the café. You need to be friends with someone to talk directly, but the café area can be set to private for you and your friends or public for meeting new players. You can also earn rewards at the Galactic Bazaar for participating in various activities, which can be redeemed for cosmetics.

Exploring other players’ planets is another optional multiplayer feature, but you can keep your planet private if you prefer. Even if you allow someone in, they can’t take your resources without your permission, and you can check their bag before they leave to ensure nothing goes missing. (Oh, how I wish this feature existed in other games.)