Software:Varsapura
Varsapura[lower-alpha 1] is an upcoming open-world role-playing video game jointly developed by miHoYo and HoYoverse. Set in a metropolis infused with supernatural elements, the game is produced by miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu, with development teams based in Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles, Montreal, and other locations. The title Varsapura derives from Sanskrit, in which varsa means "rain" and pura means "city", collectively translating to "city of rain".[1]
Setting
Varsapura is an open-world role-playing video game set in a city that is characterized by supernatural phenomena.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6] The trailer's description also notes that the protagonist's appearance will vary based on each player's preferences.[7]
Development
The game is produced by miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu, with development contributions from teams in Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles, Montreal, and other regions.[8] Unlike previous miHoYo titles, Varsapura adopts a more realistic visual style, though character faces retain anime-inspired features.[3][9] The city environments are primarily modeled on Singapore's city streets[10] 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.[7][8] Varsapura is also miHoYo's first game developed using Unreal Engine 5.[7]
On 21 November 2025, miHoYo published a 31-minute gameplay video, with job listings at the end of the video. A specific release date has not yet been announced.[1][4]
Reception
Pre-release
Kotaku's Ethan Gach described the game as resembling a psychological thriller more than a traditional fantasy or science-fiction title.[7] 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.[2] 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.[9] All three reviewers noted visual similarities between Varsapura and Control.[9][2][7]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "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.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 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.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 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.
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