Anime-style games? Isn't it just a matter of creating plenty of beautiful female characters?

Many new anime-style games have failed because their developers approached them with this simplistic mindset.

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Nexon went through several rounds of trial and error, but ultimately proved itself with Blue Archive, finding success in Japan, the birthplace of the genre, and winning a devoted following in Korea as well.

Recently, its Saving Lives, Together! campaign with the Korean Red Cross brought more than 31,000 players together to donate blood. All merchandise proceeds were also donated to charity, extending that positive impact.

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With that track record, it is only natural that Nexon's next anime-style releases are drawing attention.

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Now, details have emerged about two promising new titles.

Project RX

Project RX is a new game in development at RX Studio, part of Nexon Games' IO Division.

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The IO Division also includes MX Studio, which handles ongoing development for Blue Archive, making the two something of a pair of sister studios.

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In fact, many developers who previously worked on Blue Archive are involved in Project RX, and its clean, polished character designs have a similar feel.

The games share a similar direction as well. Project RX will explore everyday life in another world, where players live alongside beautiful female characters. A lived-in atmosphere, daily routines, bonds with characters, and storytelling are at its core.

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However, the game will also have clear differences from Blue Archive. It places greater emphasis on portraying everyday life in another world than on combat. While it is not an open-world game, some content will offer an open-world feel.

A new teaser trailer was released on December 19.

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It brings that everyday atmosphere into focus.

Characters read books,

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work on laptops,

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listen to music,

and relax on benches with a drink.

One scene shows a character drawing with ketchup on an omelet rice dish,

while another shows characters watching a horror movie at a theater.

What appear to be skill animations receive only a few fleeting glimpses.

Could it feel like dating a VTuber?

These characters were brought to life using Unreal Engine 5.

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The most common reaction is that they resemble VRChat avatars or VTuber models.

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With the VTuber market growing rapidly worldwide, that potential sense of familiarity is a positive sign.

In an interview video released alongside the teaser, the IO Division's Kim Yong-ha, Cha Min-seo, and Ahn Kyung-seop shared a development update.

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They explained that Project RX's playable build is now largely complete and said they hoped the teaser would encourage viewers to imagine this other world for themselves.

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They also noted that more developers are still needed, even though the team has nearly doubled in size.

In other words, it appears that the foundations are all in place, and the project has entered the refinement stage.

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Attention now turns to whether this new title can once again set a new direction for the genre.

Azur Promilia

Azur Promilia is a new game from Manjuu, the developer of Azur Lane, with Nexon handling publishing in Korea.

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Although an overseas test took place recently, little has been revealed in Korea so far. The publishing announcement is also a recent development.

Azur Promilia attracted attention around the time Palworld was enjoying explosive popularity by showcasing a similar creature-catching system. That system centers on fantasy creatures called Kibo.

That cabbage chicken is certainly tempting

Players can pit their Kibo against one another in Pokémon-style battles or enlist their help in regular combat. They can also ride them, use them to solve environmental puzzles, and put them to work in life-sim activities such as mining, farming, construction, and lighting fires.

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Beyond that, the game is built around tag-team action with a 3-person party and open-world exploration, offering an extensive range of content.

Above all, the game is generating considerable anticipation thanks to high-quality characters tailored to player tastes—just what one would expect from a developer that has held its own in the fiercely competitive anime-style game market on Azur Lane alone.

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By taking on publishing for such a highly anticipated title, Nexon is earning praise for its keen sense of what players want.

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Though the genres differ, it will be interesting to see whether this decision will leave a mark on gaming history, as ARC Raiders has.