During the Xbox Games Showcase, a new open-world action RPG titled Aniimo was officially unveiled. Set to launch in 2026, the game is being developed by Pawprint Studio and published under Kingsglory, a recently established publishing label from FunPlus. The game will be free-to-play and available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and mobile platforms.
Aniimo invites players to explore the expansive world of Idyll, where they will encounter magical creatures known as Aniimo. Emphasising exploration and interaction, the game introduces a unique gameplay mechanic called “Twining,” which allows players to merge with their collected Aniimo to unlock new abilities, perspectives, and gameplay styles.
As described by the developers, players will be able to capture, evolve, and battle with the Aniimo, each with their own distinct personalities and traits. The world of Idyll serves as a dynamic setting where both players and their Aniimo companions can grow, evolve, and engage with the game’s layered storytelling and combat systems.
Executive Producer at Pawprint Studio, Jovi Zhang, spoke on the studio’s vision and enthusiasm for the project:
Like every other player, the Aniimo team has always believed that one day, there will be a game that exists that makes all our dreams come true. Instead of waiting any longer, we created it ourselves. Every day we are discovering more about the Aniimo’s personalities, their interactions, their stories and their environment. The world of Aniimo is now ready for you to explore with us, and we can’t wait to see you there.
Echoing this sentiment, Chris Petrovic, Chief Business Officer and Chairman of the Board at FunPlus, commented on how Aniimo fits into their long-term goals:
We are excited to take this concrete step in growing our commitment to IP-driven cross-platform experiences for players in the form of Aniimo. Aniimo will shake up the creature-collecting genre and introduce players to an expansive and beautiful open world that the dev team is looking forward to growing with them, based on feedback from the first closed beta test.
A closed beta test for PC is scheduled for later in 2025. Interested players can sign up for early access and further updates by visiting the game’s official website.
