Software:Varsapura
Varsapura[lower-alpha 1] is an upcoming open-world role-playing video game developed and published by miHoYo. Set in a metropolis infused with supernatural elements, the game is produced by miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu.
Setting
Varsapura is an open-world role-playing video game set in a city characterized by supernatural phenomena.[1] The gameplay trailer shows the protagonist, "Hollowone," completing an assessment to join a mysterious organization known as the Supernatural Enforcement and Administration League (SEAL), driving through the city with another character, Sayuki, and entering an “inner world” to battle monstrous enemies.[2][3] In the trailer, the protagonist wields an umbrella-shaped weapon while Sayuki fights using stacks of documents. Players can switch between characters and employ stealth mechanics to assassinate enemies.[4][5] The trailer's description also notes that the protagonist's appearance will vary based on each player's preferences.[6]
Development and release
The game is produced by miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu, with development contributions from teams in Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles, Montreal, and other regions.[7] Unlike previous miHoYo titles, Varsapura adopts a more realistic visual style, though character faces retain anime-inspired features.[2][8] The city environments are primarily modeled on Singapore's city streets[9] as well as some skyscrapers of Shanghai, while the character designs take inspiration not from miHoYo's typical cel-shaded aesthetic but from the visual style of the company's virtual streamer Lumi.[6][7] Varsapura is also miHoYo's first game developed using Unreal Engine 5.[6]
On 21 November 2025, miHoYo published a 31-minute gameplay video, showing its exploration and battle system with three playable characters.[10] A specific release date has not yet been announced.[11][3]
Reception
Pre-release
Kotaku's Ethan Gach described the game as resembling a psychological thriller more than a traditional fantasy or science-fiction title.[6] Austin Wood of GamesRadar+ wrote that although the game maintains an anime-influenced look, it is "smoother and more subdued," and that compared with the "sprawling chaos" of Ananta, Varsapura presents a more "focused" gameplay experience.[1] PC Gamer's Mollie Taylor praised the combat system and supernatural mystery elements but criticized the character faces as "cheap" and "plasticky," arguing that giving a realistically proportioned female character "a pair of giant twinkling eyes" creates a weird juxtaposition.[8] All three reviewers noted visual similarities between Varsapura and Control.[8][1][6]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Austin, Wood (2025-11-21). "After 4 years, Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail dev's mystery game seemingly revealed to be the open-world game Varsapura, in a trailer that screams Control so loud I'd bet Remedy heard it in Finland" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/games/after-4-years-genshin-impact-and-honkai-star-rail-devs-mystery-game-seemingly-revealed-to-be-the-open-world-game-varsapura-in-a-trailer-that-screams-control-so-loud-id-bet-remedy-heard-it-in-finland/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shi, Chenlu (2025-11-21). "《原神》制作人新作公布实机，AI+游戏有多少可能？" (in zh-cn). Shangguan News. https://export.shobserver.com/baijiahao/html/1022605.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Varsapura - Official Gameplay Video". 2025-11-21. https://www.ign.com/videos/varsapura-official-gameplay-video.
- ↑ Fields, Sarah (2025-11-21). "Genshin Impact Developer HoYoverse Reveals New Open-World Game" (in en). https://gamerant.com/varsapura-hoyoverse-new-open-world-game-trailer-gameplay/.
- ↑ "Varsapura release date, platforms, official gameplay, features, protagonists, and more details". The Times of India. 2025-11-21. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/esports/news/varsapura-release-date-platforms-official-gameplay-features-protagonists-and-more-details/articleshow/125485260.cms.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Gach, Ethan (2025-11-21). "Varsapura Looks Like Anime Control In Wild 31-Minute Trailer" (in en-US). https://kotaku.com/varsapura-trailer-anime-horror-genshin-impact-2000646294.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Liao, Dan (2025-11-21). "蔡浩宇挂帅、31分钟实机引爆游戏圈，米哈游能否凭《Varsapura》破局“腾点网”围剿？" (in zh-cn). https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2025-11-21/4152640.html.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Taylor, Mollie (2025-11-21). "It's a shame HoYoverse's new game is sporting offensively cheap-looking character models because everything else has me sold on its paranormal cop mystery" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/its-a-shame-hoyoverses-new-game-is-sporting-offensively-cheap-looking-character-models-because-everything-else-has-me-sold-on-its-paranormal-cop-mystery/.
- ↑ "Varsapura or Singapura? Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse's newest game features familiar Singapore streets" (in en). Singapore: CNA. 25 November 2025. https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/living/varsapura-genshin-impact-hoyoverse-singapore-474366.
- ↑ Kim, Seungjun (21 November 2025). "호요버스 신작 '바르사푸라' 플레이 공개! "외계인이 만드나?"". https://www.thisisgame.com/articles/407763.
- ↑ Shi, Li (2025-11-21). "《原神》制作人操刀，米哈游新游戏首曝实机演示，热度爆了" (in zh-cn). Southern Metropolis Daily. https://m.mp.oeeee.com/oe/BAAFRD0000202511211475949.html.
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