HoYoverse is apparently teaming up with other gacha game developers like Hypergryph and Manjuu to build an entire block in Shanghai inspired by Tokyo’s famous Akihabara, the holy site of otaku culture.
Photos from a launch event showcasing a visual plan of the district appeared on Chinese social media site Weibo. According to the image, the district will be one kilometer long and will begin at HoYoverse’s brand new headquarters near the Caohejing Development Zone. Initially, 2,000 square meters of IP-related artworks, shops, a theater, a stage and an anime museum will be built along the route, with space to be added in the future.
HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero are three of the highest-grossing gacha games on the market, and the company has reinvested its profits not only in research and development, but also in various other projects – including the development of an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. Honestly, building a city block seems like a more “normal” use of funds in comparison.
Shanghai is one of the centers of the Chinese gaming industry and this project seems to have the backing of many of the city’s major players. Hypergryph, for example, is known for Arknights, while Manjuu is the company behind Azur Lane and the upcoming Azur Promilia.
Other technology companies involved in this land development project include Giant Interactive, Lilith Technology, Haowancheng, Coconut Island Games, Yostar Games, Taomee, Yoozoo and Infold, according to another photo from the event.
Together, the companies apparently want to consolidate Shanghai’s position as the new center of otaku culture in China and, in turn, improve their own position within this scene.
