HoYoverse draws attention again with announcement Varsapura, a new IP in the action-adventure genre with a touch of the supernatural that appeared through the demo of gameplay is about 31 minutes long. The demo was shot using the RTX 4090 and features a bleak modern city, a mysterious organization called SEALs, and a main character called Hollowone.
The question that immediately arises among players is one: will Varsapura become a game gacha like previous HoYoverse titles?
No Monetization Info Yet
HoYoverse has yet to provide any official information regarding Varsapura's monetization system. The initial announcement and trailers focused on the world, characters, and feel of the story with no mention of gacha, premium currency, or character acquisition systems.
An important fact to note:
- No announcement has been made on whether Varsapura will become a game free-to-play or one-time payment.
- There is no explanation of banners, pity systems, or other gacha-like mechanics that usually appear in HoYoverse titles.
- The current communication focus is still on the creative aspects: city design, supernatural threats, and SEAL organizational dynamics.
This situation has led to speculation in the community, especially since HoYoverse's reputation as a developer synonymous with game gacha like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero.
Gameplay Clue: Three Character Party System
The part that is most often used as a basis for speculation is structure gameplay The fighter that appears at the end of the demo. Hollowone is seen fighting alongside two other characters in a party, with quick character switching to connect combos and trigger special skills.
Some striking points from gameplay The:
- A party consists of three active characters that can be replaced in real-time.
- Each character has a completely different fighting style, whether it's their attack animation, range, or role in combos.
- This pattern is reminiscent of the team format in Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, where players build compositions based on their characters.
This structure is often used in game gacha as it supports collectible character designs. Each character can be assigned kit unique, distinctive visual elements, as well as potential synergies with other characters, which are then linked to a limited banner or event system.
There is no direct evidence that Varsapura is definitely following the pattern, but many players see a strong resemblance to the previous HoYoverse project.
The World of Varsapura: Supernatural, Mindrot, and SEALs
Beyond the gacha debate, Varsapura offers quite an interesting world. The city shown in the trailer looks like a mix of modern urban with elements of mystery and light horror. It's often compared to Control and Alan Wake 2, especially in terms of atmosphere and threats that aren't entirely scientifically explainable.
Some elements of the world that have been introduced:
- Hollowone, a character who appears at the beginning of the story and seeks to join the Shadow Emergency Alliance (SEAL) organization.
- The threat is a disease called Mindrot that seems to be affecting residents and the environment.
- A phenomenon called Cognosea disruption events, which gives a supernatural twist and adds to the impression of a metaphysically fragile world.
From the side of gameplay, Hollowone uses the umbrella as both a weapon and a means of mobility. He appears to be able to attack from the ground, air, and utilize a unique ability similar to parapsychological powers. These details reinforce the impression that Varsapura will feature fast-paced action with agile character control.
Business Model Forecast: Between Gacha and Single-Player
Varsapura's current development status is still quite early. HoYoverse is still recruiting for its Shanghai and Singapore-based teams, and has yet to announce a target platform or release window. This means that many aspects, including the business model, are still subject to change.
Some possibilities that are often discussed in the community:
- Varsapura became game full gacha like Genshin Impact, with a focus on character collection and periodic banners.
- Varsapura takes a single-player approach with multiple characters unlocked through story progression, similar to GTA V's multi-protagonist concept.
- Hybrid models, for example game focuses on the single-player campaign with less dominant additional collectible elements.
HoYoverse's history does lead many to assume that a gacha option is the most likely. But without an official announcement, that conclusion remains in the realm of speculation.
For the time being, the safest position for players is to assume that Varsapura has the potential to follow a pattern of gameplay party-based like other HoYoverse titles, pending clarification on monetization. More details are likely to emerge as the project nears the release phase or enters closed trials.
As long as there is no direct statement from HoYoverse, the question of “Varsapura gacha or not?” remains open. To be sure, the world design, characters, and gameplay that has been shown is enough to make many players curious to monitor the development of this new IP.
