HoYoverse is running a second closed beta for Honkai: Nexus Anima, its creature-collecting strategy game set in the Honkai universe. The test is called the Evolution Test, and it opens recruitment to players who sign up through official channels and get picked in a lottery. If you want a seat, the window to apply is short and the selection is not guaranteed.
Quick answer: Register on the official Honkai: Nexus Anima website, log in with your HoYoverse account, and submit the recruitment questionnaire before July 3, 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+8). Selected players get an email at their linked HoYoverse address, and the test goes live on July 9, 2026 for PC, iOS, and Android.
How to register for the Evolution Test
Access is decided by a lottery, so applying does not promise a spot. You still have to complete every step below to be eligible for the draw.
Note: Only users aged 18 and over who have completed real-name verification can take part. Test access is bound to your device and cannot be sold or transferred, and switching devices mid-test can lead to a ban. Ignore any third party offering to sell beta accounts or clients.
Evolution Test schedule and platforms
The Evolution Test is a free, limited, closed beta. Everything you build during the test is erased by a full data wipe once it ends, and no end date has been announced.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Test start | July 9, 2026 |
| Recruitment window | June 22, 2026 12:00 to July 3, 2026 23:59 (UTC+8) |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android |
| Selection | Lottery from registered players who submitted the survey |
| Age requirement | 18+ with real-name verification |
| Data wipe | Yes, at the end of the test |
Recommended device specifications
These are the recommended specs for the current test build only. Because the game is still in development and not yet optimized, they do not represent the final requirements at launch.
| Platform | Recommended specs |
|---|---|
| PC | Windows 10 or newer; Intel i5 11th Gen / AMD Ryzen 5000 series or better; NVIDIA RTX 2060 / AMD RX 5600 XT or better; ~12GB RAM; ~35GB storage |
| Android | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or better; 6GB RAM or more; ~15GB storage |
| iOS / iPadOS | iPhone 12 Pro or later, or iPad with an M1 chip or newer |
What’s new in the Evolution Test
This round expands the earlier closed beta with more core systems, characters, and story content. The standout addition is Anima Evolution. As the bond between you and an Anima grows, the creature visibly changes form and gains new abilities, with each evolution treated as a narrative beat rather than a plain stat boost.
The starting hub of Iia gets a sizable overhaul. A New Quarter district opens with busy streets and landmarks, including the Bond Hall and the True Nexus Group building, each acting as an entry point to faction-specific stories. Three new companions arrive as well, with Nanafey, Bai Mei, and Olympia each tied to a faction location inside Iia.
On the collecting side, the test adds Chromatic Anima, rare variant creatures that can appear at random while you explore. You can also photograph your Anima to capture moments and assign custom names to each one, leaning into the bonding mechanics that set the game apart from more combat-only creature collectors.
Combat itself runs as an auto-battler with strong similarities to Teamfight Tactics, where your Anima fight on the board and your characters provide off-field support. The mode is built around staged, mostly PvE progression rather than head-to-head competitive play.
Honkai: Nexus Anima release date
There is no official release date for Honkai: Nexus Anima yet. The game remains in active development, and the Evolution Test is its second closed beta. HoYoverse first teased the title in May 2025 and released its first gameplay footage and recruitment trailer in late August 2025, with the original Nexus Bond Test following that fall.
Games at this stage typically run two or three beta tests before launch, which points toward a release sometime in early 2027. Treat that as an estimate rather than a confirmed window, since HoYoverse has not committed to a date.
For now, the most concrete thing you can act on is the beta. Submit the questionnaire before the July 3 cutoff, watch your linked HoYoverse email for a selection notice, and be ready to download the client when the Evolution Test opens on July 9.
