Honkai: Nexus Anima's next beta test, titled "Evolution Test," has just been announced. Learn more about the upcoming playtest here, including its start date.
Honkai: Nexus Anima Evolution Test Starts July 9, 2026
Recruitment Opened June 22, Ends July 3
HoYoverse has officially announced the next closed beta test for their upcoming creature-collecting RPG, Honkai: Nexus Anima, called the "Evolution Test." Recruitment for this test opened June 22, 2026, at 4:00 A.M. UTC and will remain available until July 3, 2026, at 3:59 P.M. UTC. This translates to the following times:
⚫︎ Pacific Time (PT): June 21, 2026, at 9:00 P.M. / July 3, 2026, at 8:59 A.M.
⚫︎ Eastern Time (ET): June 22, 2026, at 12:00 A.M. / July 3, 2026, at 11:59 A.M.
Interested players can apply through the game’s official website by logging in with a HoYoverse account and filling out a recruitment questionnaire. The beta test itself is scheduled to begin on July 9, "(UTC+8)," though exact server opening hours have not yet been announced. In the meantime, check out the table below to find out when the recruitment period opened and when it closes in your local timezone:
| Region | Recruitment Start Time | Recruitment End Time |
|---|---|---|
| United States (ET) | Monday, June 22, 2026, 12:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 11:59 a.m. |
| United States (PT) | Sunday, June 21, 2026, 9:00 p.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 8:59 a.m. |
| United Kingdom | Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 4:59 p.m. |
| Central Europe | Monday, June 22, 2026, 6:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 5:59 p.m. |
| New Zealand | Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00 p.m. | Saturday, July 4, 2026, 4:59 a.m. |
| Australian East Coast | Monday, June 22, 2026, 2:00 p.m. | Saturday, July 4, 2026, 1:59 a.m. |
| Australian West Coast | Monday, June 22, 2026, 12:00 p.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
| Japan | Monday, June 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, July 4, 2026, 12:59 a.m. |
| Philippines | Monday, June 22, 2026, 12:00 p.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
| South Africa | Monday, June 22, 2026, 6:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 5:59 p.m. |
| Brazil | Monday, June 22, 2026, 1:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 12:59 p.m. |
| Universal Time (UTC) | Monday, June 22, 2026, 4:00 a.m. | Friday, July 3, 2026, 3:59 p.m. |
The Evolution Test is a free closed beta with no monetization features enabled. As with previous tests, all account data will be wiped once the test concludes.
Unlike the Nexus Bond Test, the game’s first public test in 2025, the Evolution Test will be available across PC, iOS, and Android devices. Test platform access will be assigned based on information submitted through the application questionnaire. HoYoverse also confirmed that access will be tied to the first device used to log into the game on each approved platform so as to prevent participants from freely moving their accounts between multiple devices during the test period.
Accepted players will be notified through the official website (by pressing the "Check Test Access" button), as well as via email and SMS. Those who aren't selected can still gain access by participating in community events hosted on the Honkai: Nexus Anima social media accounts.
Honkai: Nexus Anima Evolution Test Device Requirements
Selected players will need the following recommended device specifications to run the game smoothly.
PC Requirements:
| System Specs | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-11400F AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or above |
| Memory | 12GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2060 AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT or above |
| Storage | 35 GB |
iOS and Android Requirements
| System Specs | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Processor / Device Model | ⚫︎ iPhone: 12 Pro series, 13 Pro series, 14 series, and all later models ⚫︎ iPad: Models equipped with the M1 or newer chip (iPad Pro 5th Gen, iPad Air 5th Gen, and subsequent models), and iPad mini 7 |
⚫︎ Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 ⚫︎ Kirin 9020 ⚫︎ Dimensity 9000+ ⚫︎ Samsung Exynos 2400 ⚫︎ Google Tensor G4 ⚫︎ or processors with equivalent or better performance |
| System Version | iOS 15.0 or above | Android 6.0 or above |
| Memory | 6GB RAM | 6GB RAM |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
Honkai: Nexus Anima Evolution Test: What’s New?
The Evolution Test announcement was accompanied by a new trailer that shows more of Iia, one of the game’s locations. The video features returning characters such as Nanafey and Kiana, while also introducing several new faces.
Among them are Bai Mei, the current Novarch of Reality; Hungrille, the 68th Novarch and ruler of the Plane of Satiation; and Olympia, the Acting Director of the True Nexus Syndicate’s Iia branch office. The trailer also includes Otto, a character Honkai fans may recognize from previous games in the franchise. Notably, the trailer appears to be the first time Kiana has received English voice acting across the Honkai series.
Furthermore, the trailer provides a better look at several Nexus Anima that players will be able to collect and raise. New creatures shown include Fyrklor and Inkifoal, with the latter evolving into Atragacus during the footage. Players also get a brief look at Blade’s Bladehound evolving into a currently unlogged Nexus Anima.
HoYoverse also released a short gameplay showcase alongside the announcement that highlights several visual upgrades made since the previous beta, including adjustments to character models and overall presentation. Although the developer did not directly attribute every change to player feedback, the updates appear to reflect feedback gathered from earlier testing phases.
The footage also shows Nexus Anima with alternate color variations. Players may be able to customize their companions’ appearances through a feature that has yet to be fully detailed.
What is Honkai: Nexus Anima?
Honkai: Nexus Anima was first teased during the Honkai: Star Rail anniversary concert in May 2025 before being fully revealed a few months later, on August 29 of the same year. Although bearing the "Honkai" name, it introduces a new world built around the concept of "Nexus," connections that bind opposiing forces such as light and dark, life and death, and love and hate. When these connections are disrupted, fragments of their power manifest as creatures known as Anima, which become the player’s adorable companions throughout the adventure.
Even though it being a creature-collector has drawn comparisons to other monster-raising games, Honkai: Nexus Anima separates itself through its auto-battler mechanics. Players build teams of Anima and position them throughout a board before combat begins.
Over the past several months, HoYoverse has been sharing development updates through a series of DevTalk posts. These updates have introduced new Anima and improvements based on player feedback from earlier tests. The company has previously stated that community feedback is an important part of development, which makes this Evolution Test an opportunity to gather more player impressions before launch.
HoYoverse has not announced a release date for the game, however, and more tests are expected before it officially launches. For more on Honkai: Nexus Anima, check out our article below!
Sources:
HoYoLab | Honkai: Nexus Anima Evolution Test
Recruitment Now Open
Honkai: Nexus Anima | Evolution Teaser: Until We Meet
Honkai: Nexus Anima | Evolution Test Gameplay Showcase
