Diving into the “GTA” Realm: miHoYo Shifts Strategy with a New Bombshell
After several years closely linked to anime-inspired games like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero, HoYoverse (miHoYo) is displaying clear signs of a strong shift. Recently, the company unveiled a new project codenamed Project Shanghai – a clear indication of a bold direction previously unseen. According to Bloomberg, this will be a game that aims to capture the essence of titles like Grand Theft Auto (GTA), and notably, it is expected to have a larger scale and ambition than Genshin Impact.
This shift is not entirely coincidental. In fact, mobile revenue for miHoYo is projected to decline by 23% in 2024. The primary reason cited is the “intense competition” among developers… It appears that every time a new product is released, player engagement tends to dwindle, prompting miHoYo to seek new directions in the current climate.
Thus, Project Shanghai has emerged. This project is reportedly spearheaded by developers who have previously worked at major companies like Ubisoft and EA. However, details regarding Project Shanghai are still quite scarce.
Will miHoYo Make the Transition?
Although there are currently no official images or trailers, insiders suggest that Project Shanghai will feature an expansive open-world gameplay experience, incorporating action mechanics reminiscent of the GTA series. However, a key factor that may attract players is whether this game will continue to pursue the anime-style aesthetic, or pivot towards a more realistic approach to meet the Western market’s expectations.
Not only is there Project Shanghai, but recent announcements from miHoYo indicate that the company is also secretly developing several other projects across entirely new genres, such as hero shooters, social simulations, and survival games set in outer space… Overall, amid the heated global gaming market, the prospect of a “miHoYo version of GTA” could represent a significant next step for the mobile gaming industry.
With robust financial backing, a strong development team, and a massive global fanbase, Project Shanghai indeed has the potential to become a major player in the future landscape.
