HoYoverse has notched several hits under their belts withGenshin Impact,Honkai: Star Rail, and nowZenless Zone Zero. But reports have suggested that another installment,Starry Sky Valley, is on its way.Starry Sky Valleyalso seems to diverge fromHoYoverse’s roster so far genre-wise, making it an interesting addition to the brand.
Genshin Impact,Honkai: Star Rail, andZenless Zone Zerohave all skyrocketedin popularity since their respective launches. All of these games from Chinese developer HoYoverse, formerly known as miHoYo, fall somewhat under the action-adventure role-playing genre. However, information onStarry Sky Valleysuggests that it won’t follow in the footsteps of its predecessors and instead shift genres entirely.
How Starry Sky Valley Was Uncovered
Starry Sky Valley’s title was first leakedafter the phrase was trademarked by HoYoverse with the Chinese government. It should be noted that this name may change once the game is officially announced by HoYoverse asStarry Sky Valleyis a rough and literal translation of the Chinese trademark. The leak and translation came from known HoYoverse leaker @hxgdiluc on X (formerly known as Twitter). The X user also posted screenshots of a Bilibili account, a popular Chinese streaming platform, registered withStarry Sky Valley.
HoYoverse has yet to officially announce the game or comment on any leaks relating to the alleged title. Rumors of anAnimal Crossingcompetitor from HoYoversehave been raging since a series of leaks back in 2023. It seems thatStarry Sky Valleyis this alleged simulation game, adding yet another cozy game to the genre.
Considering the increased popularity of cozy games and themass revenue HoYoverse receivesfrom its other titles, creating a simulation game seems like a smart move for the Chinese developer.Starry Sky Valleyleakers might not benefit from the buzz they’re generating for HoYoverse, as the company is known for taking legal action against leakers. Nevertheless, these rumors have generated intense excitement among HoYoverse’s fan base which the developer may lean into.
New Developments in Starry Sky Valley
A select few HoYoverse fans have received mysterious emails from the studio, inviting them to a confidential play test for an unknown game. Reports list the playtest to occur the weekend of November 16 and 17 onsite in Los Angeles, California. No information on the game’s content is mentioned in the email, meaning theplaytest could be for a new HoYoverse titleor a preexisting one. Regardless, the contents of the game seem fairly juicy as players will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement if they participate. They will also receive an Amazon gift card as compensation.
With rumors aboutStarry Sky Valleycirculating for over a year, it seems reasonable that HoYoverse would try to release the game as soon as possible. At the very least, testing for the game seems like a move that would quench the thirst ofleakers in Hoyoverse’s fanbase.
Images from Starry Sky Valley Have Been Leaked Previously
Leaked images from the game have shown avatars inHoYoverse’s classic chibi art stylefrolicking through an open field to chop down trees. These chopping animations and leaked images of the game’s crafting interface are incredibly derivative ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, further evidence that HoYoverse may be trying to compete with the longstanding Nintendo franchise.
However, unlike the Nintendo property,Starry Sky Valley’s visuals seem to feature a movable camera. This is a mechanic thatAnimal Crossingdoes not have, with cameras always being fixed. PerhapsStarry Sky Valleywill focus on improvingupon established parts ofAnimal Crossingas part of the game’s draw.
Ultimately, this upcoming play test will either confirm or negateStarry Sky Valley’s leaks. HoYoverse fans will have to wait until theplaytest begins on November 16for new leaked information about the developer’s next title.
HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
Based in Shanghai, China, miHoYo is a development company best known for creating Genshin Impact and the Honkai series.
