Pokémon fans counting down to Winds and Waves just got something to play with in the meantime. A new open-world sci-fi RPG from the makers of Genshin Impact is opening closed beta signups, with the test set for this November ahead of a planned 2027 launch, CBR reports.

The title, Honkai: Nexus Anima, extends HoYoverse's Honkai universe into open-world territory — and the comparison to Pokémon isn't accidental. CBR frames the game as a natural pick for monster-collecting fans looking for a new fix while Nintendo's next mainline entry is still over the horizon.

HoYoverse has a strong track record of turning beta buzz into massive launches; Genshin Impact's pre-release tests helped build it into one of the biggest games in the world. If Nexus Anima follows the same playbook, this month's closed beta will be the first real look at whether the studio can bring its signature polish to a creature-driven sci-fi setting.

Signups are open now for players hoping to get in before the 2027 release.