Honkai Star Rail's booth during HoYoVerse 2024. AC Coloma, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Gacha game fans flocked to a mall in Mandaluyong City to catch HoYoFest, the  gaming company’s annual culmination for its biggest titles across the world. 

Fans of HoYoverse's biggest titles such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Honkai Impact 3rd and its newest game, Zenless Zone Zero braved the long lines just to be able to enjoy activities on the ground and purchase exclusive merchandise. 

The Philippine leg was held at SM Megamall Fashion Hall, the second straight year that HoYoverse conducted a more public offline event. Fans waited in line for hours, with queues snaking as high as the mall’s 5th floor. 

Zenless Zone Zero, which was released across mobile and PC platforms last July 4, had its own booth for the first time.

Zenless Zone Zero is an action role-playing game available on Windows, iOS, Android and PlayStation 5. Similar to HoYoverse's gaming titles, the user assumes the role of a playable character.

Its story is set in a post-apocalyptic universe, and blends in futuristic elements with retro characteristics.

What makes ZZZ stand out is its dual-mode playstyle, where characters will have to defeat enemies in a "3D hack and slash-like" game mode. It remains to be seen, however, if ZZZ will blend references into HoYoVerse's other titles, which has been a tradition for long. 

Fans try out Zenless Zone Zero during HoYoFest 2024 during the festival's opening day. AC Coloma, ABS-CBN News/FileFirst official sneak peek into Natlan, rewards to pour in

HoYoFest 2024 coincided with Genshin Impact’s official trailer for its new area Natlan, which was livestreamed to fans along with the game’s periodical special program, this time for the game's 5.0 version. 

Natlan's preview teaser featured the Pyro Nation's environment, along with new beasts and characters. 

Natlan will be released on August 28, while Genshin will also be introducing major quality of life updates such as increasing the level cap to 100, and invite a 5-star character from the Standard Wish lineup to their team for free. 

The release of Natlan will also coincide with the game's fourth anniversary, and players will receive awards such as Intertwined Fate and Primogems, and "more bonuses."

Cosplayers go as Lynette, Wriothesley, Navia, and new character Mavuika during HoYoFest 2024. Courtesy: HoYoVerse. 

Natlan's cityscapes and environment was heavily influenced by Latin American, African, Hispanic, and Aboriginal Australian cultures, of which, however, HoyoVerse has drawn flak for failing to properly represent skin tones, while "appropriating" parts of minority cultures. 

The game's own voice actors such as Khoi Dao (Albedo) and Valeria Rodriguez (Sucrose) also decried the character whitewashing prevalent in the trailer. #BoycottHYV also trended anew following the release of the trailer last Friday.

Natlan will be released on August 28. 

Genshin Impact is available on mobile, on PC, and on the PlayStation 4 (except Star Rail) and PlayStation 5. But as a gacha game, much of their in-game currencies require spending actual money. Parental guidance is advised for younger gamers.