MiHoYo, the Chinese developer behind HoYoVerse, has been busy lately, significantly altering its upcoming title, previously known as Astaweave Haven. Even before a public reveal, the game is undergoing transformations, hinting at a potentially significant shift in direction.
For those unfamiliar, Astaweave Haven was generating buzz within the gacha and RPG communities. While official details from MiHoYo remain scarce, indications suggest a departure from their established open-world gacha formula. Instead of another expansive gacha adventure, Astaweave Haven appears poised to be a life-simulation or management game, drawing comparisons to titles like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley.
This brings us to the key development: MiHoYo has rebranded Astaweave Haven as Petit Planet. The new moniker offers a more approachable and whimsical feel, subtly hinting at the game's likely genre shift away from the typical MiHoYo gacha RPG.
The launch date remains undisclosed. While Astaweave Haven received Chinese approval for PC and mobile in July, HoYoVerse registered Petit Planet on October 31st, pending approvals in the U.S. and U.K. Given MiHoYo's rapid release cadence (witness the quick succession of Zenless Zone Zero after Honkai: Star Rail), approval of the new name should hopefully precede a swift unveiling of Petit Planet's gameplay and visuals.
Community reaction to the rebranding is mixed; a Reddit thread provides a valuable glimpse into player sentiment. Until further news emerges on Petit Planet (formerly Astaweave Haven), be sure to check out our coverage of Arknights Episode 14.