Wow, watch out HoYoverse, eh? Teased earlier in the month, Chinese juggernaut Netease Games has announced a new, upcoming PS5 and PS4 open world named Project Mugen – and its debut trailer will almost certainly drop your jaws. While it leans heavily into gacha tropes – those waifu character designs have been purpose built to empty your wallets, after all – the gameplay on display is seriously impressive, showcasing Spider-Man-like swinging, flashy combat, and even vehicular exploration. The game will be available to download for free, and you can pre-register your interest on its official website through here.

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“Project Mugen is our love letter to urban fantasies,” explained marketing manager Riten Huang. “We wanted to create a world that players could relate to, yet find enough mysteries to keep them coming back. The city is alive, and every player will have their unique journey through it.”

Development is being handled by Thunder Fire Studio subsidiary Naked Rain, and it has teams in both Montreal and Hangzhou, which it believes demonstrates its commitment to “transnational” production. NetEase Games’ Ethan Wang elaborated: “Today’s unveiling of Project Mugen extends beyond this announcement; it represents NetEase Games’ spirit of global collaboration, creativity, and innovation to push the envelope in interactive storytelling.”

As for the game itself, you’ll play as an Esper, an investigator tasked with visiting various cities and confronting “supernatural occurrences”. The press release adds: “Dive deep into the mysteries, explore the city life, and forge unforgettable memories with your companions. As players navigate through the game, they’ll embark on a quest to recover lost memories, confront challenges in various distinct cities, and work to unlock the key to saving the world.”

Much like in Genshin Impact, you’ll build a party of four characters, each with unique combat abilities and mechanics. The trailer shows how one protagonist is able to leverage telekinesis, while another handles like a third-person shooter. And yes, as previously mentioned, there are vehicles to make the urban traversal that little bit more engaging. Looks bloody promising, doesn’t it?