Saber and Archer will fight in Penacony! Collaboration Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail officially begins on July 11, 2025 with a special event titled Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail.
Sure, there will be plenty of iconic characters making appearances, but that's not all. What's even more interesting about the collaboration event Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail this is an exclusive dialog between two legendary writers, Nasu Kinoko of TYPE-MOON and Shaoji of HoYoverse.
The two had an interesting conversation in Shanghai and instantly became a cross-generational meeting point that showed how two creators from two different universes built a connection through narrative, vision, and respect for "Ode to Humanity."
This interview was originally facilitated by Japanese media outlet Denfaminicogamer, with the Japanese version published on July 8, 2025 at 11:00 UTC+8. The original article can be read at: https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/250708s.
A collaboration between Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail - Starting from a Dream
Many otaku have grown up together through anime Fate and maybe they are also now actively playing Honkai: Star RailSo this collaboration might seem like a dream. But according to Shaoji, the lead writer, it all started with a simple but powerful question: "What do players, teams, and yourself love most?"
The answer? Fate/stay night.
Not just because the visual style matches Star RailBut because many HoYoverse staff are big fans of TYPE-MOON. Even Shaoji himself claimed to have been a fan since his school days.
Saber, Archer, and Lancer Present at Penacony
In this crossover event, Saber and Archer will appear as five-star playable characters. While Lancer is present as an NPC in the main story. This character selection is not a random one. Shaoji explained that to represent the concept of Three Knight Classes from Fate/stay nightLancer should still be included in the story even though it cannot be played directly.
Interestingly, the story of collaboration Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail This is not just a short event or simulation.
Instead of wearing Simulated UniverseInstead, the story of the Holy Grail War is inserted directly into Penacony, an area within the Holy Grail War. Star Rail which is known as a world full of dreams and ambitions. According to Shaoji, it's the perfect place to express the conflict and hope that characterize it. Fate.
Nasu Kinoko's Admiration for Star Rail's Quality
Nasu Kinoko, creator Fate/stay night and Fate/Grand Order, expressed his admiration for Star Rail. When he first tried the game, he admits that he was surprised by the quality of the animation and scenarios, "HoYoverse developed too quickly. I was even afraid they would dominate the turn-based RPG genre," he says with a laugh.
Even so, he welcomes collaboration Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail with enthusiasm. For Nasu, this collaboration is not about two big IPs coming together in an event, but about the spirit of otaku who know and respect each other.
The Philosophy of Writing: From Blueprints to Human Emotions
This dialogue also discussed how they write stories, from the perspective of two generations of creators.
Nasu explains that every decade, he sets a major theme for his work-from "consumerism" in Witch on the Holy Nightto the feeling of responsibility for the impact felt by FGO's audience. Meanwhile, Shaoji explained how his team works in a super-fast production pattern: 42 days to release new content.
Although their working processes are different, both agree that the best stories are those that become ode to humanity. Whether through suffering or hope, the story in the game should convey a kind of "life energy" that can imprint itself on the player's heart.
From Inspiration to Legacy
Shaoji openly stated that Nasu's works shaped him into the writer he is today. From the hollow but still very memorable feeling after finishing watching Fateto the passion to continue writing stories that keep players engaged.
On the contrary, Nasu is touched to see her work and spirit being carried on by a new generation. "If my work can inspire others, then all the struggle is worth it," he says.
Meeting the Challenges of the Modern Mobile Game Industry
Other topics covered in the collaboration Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail is the transformation of the mobile gaming industry. According to Nasu, since the emergence of Genshin ImpactThe line between mobile games and consoles is starting to blur. Now, live-service RPGs like Honkai: Star Rail capable of providing narration and animation on par with AAA titles.
But there was a price to pay. Shaoji calls this process a very challenging project, as each script requires the support of a much more complex animation, design, and audio team than the early FGO era.
But despite all these challenges, they agree that their main mission is to tell stories that are meaningful to people. Themes such as love, loss, hope, and kindness remain the main foundation in all their works.
At the end of the session, Shaoji asked one personal question: "If the world ended and a child was watching Fate/stay nightAnd then someone next to him says 'I've met Nasu Kinoko', how does that feel?"
Nasu laughed, but replied seriously: "It is a legacy. It has been passed into the hands of the next generation."
Through this dialog, we finally understand that the collaboration between Fate/stay night and Honkai: Star Rail is not just a crossover of two major franchises. This is an important moment when two universes come together in the same story, even bringing together two generations of creators.
The two creators also share a similar mission, which is that stories written with heart will always find a way to live on-through time, across media, and generations.
This collaborative event is titled Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail and has now officially started in-game.
📅 Schedule: July 11, 2025
🧭 Story location: Penacony
🎮 Crossover characters: Saber & Archer (playable), Lancer (NPC)
🔗 Play now at Honkai: Star Rail
🔗 Read the original interview on Denfaminicogamer
