New RPG and Adventure Games Launch on Consoles

Why it matters

- *Rune Factory* began as a fantasy-themed spin-off of the *Harvest Moon* (now *Story of Seasons*) farming simulation series to celebrate its 10th anniversary, incorporating action RPG elements like dungeon crawling and combat. The series is developed by Marvelous Inc. and published by XSEED Games in the US. - The *Rune Factory* series traditionally features protagonists who have lost their memory and gameplay that combines farming, fighting monsters, and building relationships with townspeople. *Guardians of Azuma* is set in a new, eastern-inspired land called Azuma and introduces a village management element. - *Honkai: Star Rail* is developed by the Chinese company miHoYo, which also created *Genshin Impact*, and is published globally under the brand HoYoverse. It is the fourth major installment in the *Honkai* franchise. - The 4.0 update, titled "No Aha at Full Moon," introduces a new world, Planarcadia, and a storyline focused on the "Elation" path that is expected to continue throughout 2026. - The meta shift in *Honkai: Star Rail* is driven by two new "Elation" path characters. One new character, Yao Guang, can regenerate skill points for the team and increase the damage enemies receive. - Version 4.0 also includes quality-of-life updates, such as making daily assignments less restrictive and optimizing the Relic and Team Lineup systems for a more convenient player experience.

Key numbers

• *Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma* is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, while *Honkai: Star Rail* has released its version 4.0 overhaul, introducing a significant meta shift.
• - *Rune Factory* began as a fantasy-themed spin-off of the *Harvest Moon* (now *Story of Seasons*) farming simulation series to celebrate its 10th anniversary, incorporating action RPG elements like dungeon crawling and combat.
• The 4.0 update, titled "No Aha at Full Moon," introduces a new world, Planarcadia, and a storyline focused on the "Elation" path that is expected to continue throughout 2026.
• Version 4.0 also includes quality-of-life updates, such as making daily assignments less restrictive and optimizing the Relic and Team Lineup systems for a more convenient player experience.

What happens next

• The 4.0 update, titled "No Aha at Full Moon," introduces a new world, Planarcadia, and a storyline focused on the "Elation" path that is expected to continue throughout 2026.

Sources

• now available
• has released
• *Rune Factory* began
• and published by XSEED
• The *Rune Factory*
• *Honkai: Star Rail*
• The 4.0 update, titled
• One new character, Yao

Quick answers