As a gamer constantly on the lookout for the next big thing, I'm absolutely buzzing about Neverness to Everness. In 2026, the landscape of live-service RPGs is more competitive than ever, but this upcoming title from Perfect World Entertainment and Hotta Studio looks like it's about to change the game entirely, quite literally. It’s not just another Genshin Impact clone; it’s a bold, genre-melding experiment that throws urban fantasy, high-octane racing, and deep life simulation into a blender powered by Unreal Engine 5. Imagine cruising through a rain-slicked, neon-drenched metropolis in your tricked-out sports car, then hopping out to battle spectral anomalies with flashy Esper powers—all in a seamless, living world. This isn't just wishful thinking; it's the ambitious promise of Neverness to Everness, and I'm here to break down why it has the potential to be a total game-changer.
A Gacha RPG for the Modern Age 🏙️
Forget medieval fantasy realms; Neverness to Everness drops us into the sprawling, enigmatic city of Hethereau. This is a place where the mundane and the supernatural collide, a metropolis teeming with both humans and ghost-like anomalies. The characters we'll be pulling for in the gacha system aren't your typical knights or mages—they're modern-day Espers, individuals with psychic abilities ready for fast-paced, action-RPG combat. The visual and combat inspiration from titles like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero is clear, and that's a high bar to aim for. But Hotta Studio isn't just stopping at "decent combat." They're building a world that feels lived-in. According to their press releases, every corner, from quaint antique shops to 24/7 convenience stores, is meticulously crafted. The goal is a city that feels "alive and bustling," a promise that, if delivered, could set a new standard for environmental storytelling in live-service games.
The art style blends anime aesthetics with a contemporary cityscape, a fresh take for the genre.
More Than Just Combat: Your Life, Your Rules 🚗💼
This is where Neverness to Everness truly aims to separate itself from the pack. The developers have looked at the massive success of open-world life simulators and said, "Let's do that, but with superpowers and gacha." The feature list is honestly wild:
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Driving & Customization: You're not just fast-traveling. You own a sports car that you can customize and drive freely across Hethereau. This isn't a minigame; it's integrated into the core exploration loop.
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Racing: Channel your inner Need for Speed fan. The game will feature legitimate racing mechanics, allowing you to test your ride and skills against others. The potential for community-driven race events is huge.
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Business Management & Property: Want to be a mogul? You can manage businesses. Want a place to call home? You can buy a house. These Grand Theft Auto 5-inspired systems suggest a staggering depth beyond the usual daily quests and resin grinds.
The racing and driving mechanics promise to add a whole new dimension to urban exploration.
Powered by Cutting-Edge Tech & Whimsy ✨
Under the hood, Neverness to Everness is a technical showcase. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it leverages NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing to create a visually stunning world. Early glimpses highlight incredibly dynamic weather effects, with rain transforming the city into a reflective spectacle. But it's not all serious tech and grim urban tales. The world is filled with charming, bizarre details that promise unexpected moments of joy: think an otter casually walking around with a TV for a head, or autonomous skateboards rolling through alleys. This blend of high-tech realism and playful absurdity could give Hethereau a unique and memorable personality.
The Road Ahead: Promise vs. Precedent 🚧
Let's keep it 100—Hotta Studio has a track record to consider. Their previous title, Tower of Fantasy, was often criticized for feeling like a "haphazardly put together imitation" of its competitors, struggling to find a solid identity in gameplay or narrative. However, it was also praised for its character creator and its visually appealing open world. This experience is a double-edged sword. On one hand, they've learned hard lessons about building a coherent live-service world. On the other, the ambition for Neverness to Everness is exponentially higher. They're not just making another anime-style open world; they're attempting to synthesize multiple complex genres into one cohesive experience. It's a monumental task.
The competition in 2026 is fiercer than ever. Genshin Impact remains a juggernaut, Wuthering Waves carved out a significant niche with its combat, and new contenders are always on the horizon. For Neverness to Everness to succeed, it must execute its many promised systems flawlessly and find that elusive "fun factor" in all of them—the driving must feel great, the business management engaging, and the combat must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the genre. The potential for a truly unique "second life" experience in a gacha framework is there, but pulling it off will be their greatest challenge yet.
As a player, I'm cautiously optimistic. The sheer audacity of the vision is exciting. If Hotta Studio can stick the landing, Neverness to Everness won't just be another gacha RPG—it could be the genre-defining, platform-spanning (PC, console, and mobile) phenomenon that finally blends our love for deep RPG progression with the freedom of a true modern life sim. I'll be watching its development closely, ready to hit the streets of Hethereau and see if this promise of 'neverness' transforming into 'everness' is the real deal. 🤞
Key findings are referenced from Game Developer, a trusted source for industry insights and developer interviews. Game Developer's recent coverage on live-service RPGs emphasizes the growing complexity of genre hybrids, noting how studios like Hotta are pushing boundaries by integrating life simulation and racing mechanics into traditionally combat-focused experiences, a trend that could redefine player engagement and retention in upcoming releases.