Anime-style mobile gaming is entering a very busy stretch, and if you’re playing from Malaysia or anywhere in SEA, your wallet and storage space may both be in danger.
The biggest headline is Honkai: Star Rail hitting its 3rd anniversary. HoYoverse is rolling out version 4.2, titled “So Laughed the Masses,” on April 22, 2026, continuing the Planarcadia storyline and the Phantasmoon Games arc. The update also introduces a new playable form of the Trailblazer tied to the Path of Elation, complete with a party-themed multi-form glowstick weapon. Very subtle, HoYo.
For players who have fallen off the Astral Express, this is probably the cleanest time to jump back in. Anniversary updates usually mean free pulls and resources, but this one has a stronger hook: players who log in after the update launches will receive a free Golden Companion Spirit. That item can be used in the Stellar Convergence shop, where previously limited 5-star characters are being added.
Two big names joining that selection are Robin and Huohuo. Both are valuable support-style units, so this matters especially for SEA players who don’t want to swipe every time a rerun banner appears. If you’re mostly free-to-play, a free path toward a useful 5-star is not small news.
HoYoverse is also taking the celebration offline. The 3rd anniversary includes in-person promotions across multiple regions, including Southeast Asia, with pop-up merchandise stores, local collaborations and a “Run to Elation” 3km fun run. The official reasoning is one kilometre for each year of Star Rail, which is cute lah. Also, three kilometres is much more realistic for gamers than a full 5km sufferfest.
On the banner side, version 4.2 brings Silver Wolf LV.999, a powered-up take on one of Star Rail’s early fan-favourite characters, plus Evanescia, a pink-haired, rabbit-eared fighter who has already caught attention from longtime miHoYo fans. HoYoverse also released an animated music video by MAPPA, featuring Kafka, Silver Wolf and Blade, which tells you how serious the anniversary marketing push is.
Meanwhile, Neverness to Everness is preparing for launch on April 29, 2026 for Android, iOS, PS5 and PC. Developed by Hotta Studio and Perfect World, the game is basically being pitched as an anime urban open-world title with big-budget energy — flashy combat, a massive city called Hethereaul, cars, motorcycles, police trouble, minigames, condos, outfits and vehicle collecting.
Players take the role of an Anomaly Hunter, dealing with supernatural incidents in the city while working with other groups, including the Bureau of Anomaly Control. The gacha system, called Scarborough Fair, appears to have dropped the usual 50/50 structure from earlier tests. Instead, the featured character is guaranteed within 90 rolls, with S-rank odds increasing after 70. That could be a smarter pitch in SEA, where many players already juggle Genshin, Star Rail, Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero without wanting another money sink.
NTE is also launching with music crossovers from Persona 5: The Phantom X and Tower of Fantasy. Less fun are the ongoing rumours around generative AI assets, tied to earlier playtest files and Perfect World’s public interest in using AI tools for development areas like concept design, modelling and story generation.
Elsewhere, Wuthering Waves is lining up its own 2nd anniversary with version 3.3, titled “Reverbs from the End of Galaxies,” arriving on April 30. The update brings new main story quests, new Resonators including Hiyuki, and even branded bike skins.
Short version: late April is stacked. If you’re a Malaysian gacha player, claim the freebies first, test the new launches carefully, and maybe don’t let every anniversary banner bully your bank account.
Source: Anime News Network