HoYoverse has opened sign-ups for the Petit Planet Stardrift Test, with the next closed beta for its cosy galactic life sim set to begin on 21 April across PC, iOS and Android.
As per the press release, this new test build will add new Neighbors, updated Starsea Voyage content, and more to do at the Galactic Bazaar. So yes, Petit Planet is still very much leaning into the idea of letting players potter about in space, but now with even more fluffy company.
In Petit Planet, players step into the role of a Planet Tender, setting out into the Starsea with a planet of their own. From there, it is all about building a life at your own pace. You can farm, fish, cook, beachcomb, decorate your home and shape the landscape around you, all while spending your days alongside the game’s fuzzy Neighbors. It is giving cosy life sim, but with a galactic twist and a lot more stars overhead.
The latest closed beta looks set to expand that formula in a few key ways. New Neighbors are making their debut, each with their own stories, personalities and dreams. Players can invite them to settle on their planet, then deepen those relationships through chats, gifts and everyday interactions. In other words, expect plenty of wholesome social busywork, and that is meant in the nicest possible way.
The Stardrift Test adds more to explore across the Starsea
HoYoverse says life in Petit Planet is also being expanded through updates to the Starsea Voyage. With the Starsea Map, players can travel with Neighbors in their vehicles and head out to explore a range of colourful Islets.
The game’s wider world is built around connection too. As bonds grow between characters, planets and the things around them, Luca, described as the vitality flowing through all things, helps shape new landscapes and brings fresh changes to the world. It is a neat hook for a game that seems very keen on mixing laid-back life sim routines with a more magical sense of growth.
Galactic Bazaar activities are getting busier too
The Galactic Bazaar is also getting a bigger spotlight in the Stardrift Test. HoYoverse describes it as a lively social hub where players can grab coffee, relax by a bonfire, try fortune-telling, dance with friends and even join auctions.
That all fits the pitch here rather nicely. Petit Planet is not just about tending your own patch of cosmic real estate. It also wants to be a community-driven space where players can spend time together and make the universe feel a little more alive.
Petit Planet is currently confirmed for PC and mobile, with more platforms in development. Sign-ups for the Stardrift Test are open now, and HoYoverse says selected players who complete the sign-up survey will be invited to take part.
If you have been after a new cosy game with a bit more orbit to it, Petit Planet seems keen to make its case. Farming, fishing, fuzzy pals and coffee in space is a fairly decent pitch, to be fair.