Star Rail Poses a Question for the Rumored ‘Starry Sky Valley’

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 3, 2024 5 Views 7 Min Read
Star Rail Poses a Question for the Rumored 'Starry Sky Valley'



It’s no secret that HoYoverse is one of the most accomplished developers in the gacha niche, boasting some of the highest-rated releases in the category’s history. The likes of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail have shattered glass ceilings in recent years, and judging from the latest news coming out of the rumor grapevine, the Chinese developer still has more ideas to add to its already impressive lineup. A new game, Starry Sky Valley, is rumored to be in the works at HoYoverse, and although not much is known about its direction in terms of narrative or gameplay, speculation is rife as to how Honkai: Star Rail and other titles from the studio could influence the upcoming game.




While Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai: Star Rail each have unique mechanics that have propelled them to global relevance, they share the umbrella of a blend between adventure and action-based gameplay. Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero favor a fast-paced RTC approach, with Star Rail opting for a turn-based strategy. HoYoverse tends to work with patterns in its titles, and based on the order of its major releases — Genshin Impact before Star Rail and finally ZZZ — it seems the developer employs an alternating focus. Although Starry Sky Valley‘s premise is still unclear at the moment, HoYoverse going down a similar route to Star Rail, or even staying the course Genshin and Zenless Zone Zero have carved out, has ramifications for the developer’s future.

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HoYoverse’s Direction for Starry Sky Valley Needs to Be Distinctive


HoYoverse’s titles typically rake in millions of dollars in revenue each month, and Honkai: Star Rail has witnessed a few months when it leapfrogged the developer’s flagship, Genshin Impact, in this area. Although the title’s financial performance is prone to fluctuation, evidenced by the $12 million drop between September and October, the underlying reasons for Star Rail‘s overall success lie in its refreshing appeal as a turn-based gacha game. There aren’t many of those in existence, and as such, it would be in HoYoverse’s best interests to maintain that novelty instead of creating competition for itself.

Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero‘s competitive atmosphere can form a case study for HoYoverse to consider. Genshin Impact is the established figurehead of the developer’s franchises, and while it has maintained a revenue stream ranging between $20 and 30 million on a month-to-month basis, Zenless Zone Zero, despite its smaller scope, has had a tougher time living up to its lofty standards. Setting up Starry Sky Valley in a similar manner to Honkai: Star Rail limits its potential and also lowers the titles’ entertainment value.


Furthermore, in the event that Starry Sky Valley doesn’t go the turn-based route and instead opts for an action-based gameplay system, it may have a difficult time presenting itself as a unique option to be explored. Genshin Impact and ZZZ have that niche covered, and although the prospective new game could find innovative ways to build an identity for itself, joining the already beefy ranks HoYoverse has built in that category doesn’t bode well for originality.

Starry Sky Valley’s Rumored Simulator Premise Could Be the Perfect Solution

However, Starry Sky Valley might not have nearly the same basis as any of HoYoverse’s blockbuster lineup. In 2023, rumors emerged of a cozy simulator title in the works at the Chinese developer to compete with Animal Crossing. Given that cozy sims have seen a rise in popularity, with games like Tales of the Shire at the forefront of the boost, it stands to reason for HoYoverse to explore the genre at its peak. Leaked images of Starry Sky Valley seem to support the simulator theory, with visuals depicting a movable camera and avatars chopping down trees in an open field.


If the leaks are to be believed, then HoYoverse would neatly sidestep the watering down problem looming by following in the turn-based footsteps of Honkai: Star Rail or that of Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero. A shift in focus from the traditional action gameplay the developer’s titles tend to employ would be a breath of fresh air if it materializes, and it’s a direction that could hold promise for the future.

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