HoYoverse is making a major strategic shift. The developer is launching Nodosfall, a cooperative monster-hunting action game unveiled at Gamescom 2026. This expands beyond Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail's signature anime-inspired mobile gaming formula, signaling the studio's determination to diversify its portfolio beyond the character-driven gacha formula that has defined its recent financial success.
Nodosfall represents a stark visual departure, adopting photorealistic graphics and a gothic aesthetic in place of HoYoverse's typical anime style.
Nodosfall's structure mirrors Monster Hunter's core loop: players embark from a base camp situated on a mountain plateau overlooking dramatic terrain, select characters and abilities, then hunt massive monsters across subterranean lakes and cliffsides. Up to four players cooperate on each hunt, requiring coordination and strategic ability selection. A sample mission during Polygon's hands-on preview involved tracking and defeating two major bosses: Quongqi, a 30-foot gryphon, and Maldrake, a dragon ridden by an armored knight wielding a sword of light.
Combat demands coordination and precise timing. Its parry system requires charging a heavy attack and releasing at the exact moment of enemy contact, rather than pressing a button at the right moment. Abilities tie to cooldowns, and coordinated attacks trigger joint executions: powerful finishers that unleash spectacular visual effects. According to Polygon's hands-on time at Gamescom, the gameplay felt closer to Final Fantasy 16's cooperative action sequences than to FromSoftware's methodical Elden Ring design, despite early internet comparisons to the latter.
HoYoverse plans to monetize Nodosfall exclusively through cosmetic purchases.
The studio's other games generate revenue through randomized character rolls. This core mechanic is entirely absent. The developer confirmed a Windows PC launch but has not announced other platforms or a release date. This shift suggests the company believes core gamers value fair progression.