Summary
Every developer has a flagship that its identity is closely tied to, and in the case of HoYoverse, it’s indisputably beenGenshin Impactsince it burst onto the action role-playing scene in late 2020. A stream of consistent updates has followed in the time since, expanding the lore of Teyvat and building a vast network of faithful fans due in no small part to its eye-catching character designs and smooth combat mechanics. However, there comes a time when a flagship’s success is rivaled by another title from the same developer. With the emergence ofHonkai: Star Rail, HoYoverse finds itself in an enviable situation with two high-revenue games in the same genre, and despiteHonkai’s recent impressive numbers,Genshin Impactshouldn’t worry too much about its sister title’s success.
Titles in the same genre usually battle for gamers' attention, and revenue numbers can reliably tell what game has a stranglehold on the market. It’s a rare feat that the same developer produces multiple titles that compete among themselves at the top of the pile. Rockstar faced this problem with itsGrand Theft AutoandRed Dead Redemptionmega franchises, but the developer has mitigated the level of competition between its role-playing entries by spacing out release dates. WithHoYoverseconcurrently runningGenshin ImpactandHonkai: Star Rail- both of which rely on maintaining a large player base - it seemsStar Rail’s recent numbers could spell trouble forGenshin Impact. However, given their player base similarities and unique focuses,Genshin Impact’s bubble shouldn’t pop just yet.
Honkai: Star Rail’s Success Doesn’t Mean Genshin Impact’s Failure
Some games take the world by storm, hitting the ground running with such force that they garner a massive player base in relatively little time.Palworldhas been 2024’s golden child in this respect, gaining popularity with each passing day, and 2023 saw a similar title inHonkai: Star Rail.
Honkai: Star Rail’s Revenue Figures are Getting a Boost
Some might have consideredGenshin Impactto be a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for HoYoverse, butHonkai: Star Rail’s stellar performance, culminating in theBest Mobile Game win at The Game Awards 2023, has cemented the developer’s position as a big player in the industry.
On the surface,Star Rail’s dominance can be interpreted as ominous writing on the wall for lovers ofGenshin Impact, since both titles operate in the same space. A quick look at mobile game revenue charts from Sensor Tower shows a tightly contested $92.8 million forGenshin Impactcompared to $92.5 million forHonkai: Star Railin February, before the latter completely outstrippedGenshin Impactwith a staggering $145 million in March. Acheron’s introduction on March 20 was the orchestrating factor behind this sudden uptick inStar Rail’s revenue, but it doesn’t signal an incoming downtrend inGenshin Impact’s earning potential.
Genshin Impact’s Similar Player Base and Unique Premise Make its Success Independent
The revenue of both titles largely depends on banner sales, andGenshin Impact’s corresponding lull can be attributed to the high anticipation for Acheron’s entry intoStar Rail’s meta. By all accounts, April’s numbers should indicate a reversal of the trend inGenshin Impact’s favor given the fanfare that should accompany the introduction of Arlecchino as a playable character inGenshin Impact4.6 Update. Aside from the see-saw revenue relationship, even in the scenario whereStar Railconsistently outperformsGenshin Impact, its distinct Earth-like fantasy setting combined with the crossover between both player bases indicates the HoYoverse flagship should retain its status as a top dog.
For a game ofGenshin Impact’s status to be in peril, there would have to be a considerable dip in the number of gamers actively playing. Ordinarily,Honkai: Star Rail’s rise would spell doom in this regard, but a large chunk of its players also spend their fair share of time exploring and finding clues tounsolved mysteries inGenshin Impact. Teyvat’s fantasy spin on Earth also contrastsStar Rail’s planet-scale premise, so both games have unique experiences to offer gamers. With a distinct setting and a secure player base, which is kept in a never-ending stream of entertainment throughGenshin Impact’s famed six-week update schedule, the title is in no danger of falling off the mountaintop for the foreseeable future.
