Neverness to Everness details its Esper Cycle system and provides a glimpse of Daily Life in Hethereau

Hotta Studio and Perfect World unveiled some new information their recently announced open-world Unreal Engine 5 RPG Neverness to Everness. They released a new trailer showing off daily life gameplay in its main city Hethereau, along with how players can trigger an Esper Cycle by melding different character attributes together as they fight foes.

One of the main features that Hotta Studio has touted with Neverness to Everness is the ability for players to drive freely around the streets of Hethereau. Some new live gameplay footage was shared during the trailer, as well.

As players roam around the city, several supernatural phenomenoms can occur that seamlessly transition surrounding environments to a much more creepier, surreal world in real-time.

When people encounter foes, they can utilize the Esper Cycle mechanic in combat. Unleash their characters' skills and combos to infuse enemies with specific attributes; when adject attributes combine, an Esper Cycle reaction can occur. 

Watch the new Neverness to Everness trailer below and pre-registrations are now live on its official website. Neverness to Everness is currently set to release on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile devices.

Today, Hotta Studio released a New Gameplay Trailer of its upcoming supernatural urban open-world RPG, Neverness to Everness (NTE) . Developed using Unreal Engine 5 and featuring cutting-edge NVIDIA DLSS rendering and ray tracing technology, NTE promises an immersive, high-quality gaming experience

NTE unfolds in a unique world where the ordinary and extraordinary coexist – a city teeming with anomalies and humans alike. As players, you will make a grand entrance into this city, employing your extraordinary Esper abilities to navigate and tackle the unexpected anomalies that await. NTE also offers a variety of lifestyles for the players to choose from: modify sports cars, manage businesses, etc., and experience a vibrant urban life in the way you like.

Showcase of Esper Cycle and First Boss Fight

The new gameplay trailer introduces a new combat mode: Esper Cycle. Players can use skills and combos to attack enemies, infusing them with their character's specific attributes. When two adjacent attributes from the cycle combine, they trigger a powerful synergy known as the Esper Cycle, unlocking new combat possibilities. Players can also build their Cycle Rate through combat actions, and once it reaches full capacity, they can unleash the full power of the Esper Cycle, gaining a decisive tactical advantage in battle.

In addition to the gameplay reveal, the trailer introduced a new boss: Picture Frame, a unique and haunting enemy. This empty frame brought to life uses paint as a weapon in its attacks. Throughout history, while the art within frames has been preserved and revered, the frames themselves are often discarded and replaced. These abandoned relics have now taken on a life of their own, seeking revenge during moments of chaos and disruption. Picture Frame adds a mystical element to the game's already atmospheric world, offering players a challenging and visually stunning boss fight.

Seamless Integration of Supernatural Elements

The trailer also highlighted the game's commitment to delivering a seamless experience powered by Unreal Engine 5. Players will directly encounter supernatural events, ensuring fluid transitions between exploring the city and facing unexpected anomalies. Whether roaming the streets or entering shops, NTE strives for uninterrupted exploration, despite the technical challenges involved. The development team has highlighted their pursuit of achieving 100% seamless gameplay to provide a smooth and immersive experience.

Immersive High-Freedom Experience in Urban Cityscapes

Set in the urban city of Hethereau, NTE features a richly detailed environment that players can explore both day and night. The dynamic climate system enhances the in-game experience, making the city feel alive and responsive. Weather will play a significant role in gameplay, affecting elements such as vehicle handling, which further deepens the connection between players and the city's ecosystem.

Each character's Esper ability introduces unique ways to traverse the vast city of Hethereau, enhancing exploration to be more dynamic and immersive. A standout example is Nanally's Anti-Gravity ability, which enables players to soar over buildings and navigate the city with ease. This ability allows players to overcome traditional barriers and unlock new routes, transforming Hethereau into a playground for vertical exploration. With these abilities, players can interact with the urban landscape in unprecedented ways, making every corner of the city accessible.

Q&A Session With Hotta Studio

1. The level of content in the open world is exceptionally high. Fans can't help but compare it to GTA after experiencing it. How did you achieve such a high-quality open world?

A: We've seen many players comparing our game to GTA, and honestly, the team is quite flattered. We still have a long way to go to catch up.

When we set out to develop NTE, our vision wasn't simply to create a vast open world, but to build a city that feels truly alive—a place players could lose themselves in, not just because of its size, but because of its depth. Every decision we made came back to one core objective: to create a more immersive and richly experiential urban environment.

2. The combat currently looks visually stunning, but the feel of the controls seems to have room for improvement. Will there be enhancements to the action gameplay? Are there any unique combat mechanics specific to NTE? How does the difficulty compare to other products?

A: The action gameplay is still undergoing continuous optimization and improvement. As a supernatural world, we place great importance on combat mechanics based on "Esper abilities" and "anomalies." After the release of the first trailer, we collected player feedback on combat interactions, targeting, effects, and more, and we will implement adjustments in future updates.

3. Regarding games made with UE5, we have significant concerns about mobile adaptation. Can you share any plans in this area? Will the gaming experience for mobile players be comparable to that of PC players? Additionally, will the game size be large? Players have expressed concerns about their phones being unable to support a large game file.

A: Optimizing the multi-platform gaming experience is a priority for us, and it's quite a challenge in the project's development. Rest assured, we will do our utmost to ensure a smooth experience across all devices.

4. How will the connection with other players be shown? Will only some players share the same space, or will users share the world in certain areas while still enjoying their own stories?

A: This aspect is still in development, so we can't disclose too much at this time. Overall, there won't be mandatory interactions between players. However, you can show your friends the customized homes and modified vehicles in Hethereau, and take them for a drive—these activities will definitely be possible.

5. Finally, is there anything special you would like to say to all players?

A: We are committed to understanding what players around the world want and expect as we create a unique urban fantasy open-world game. Throughout development, we've put player experience first, aiming to deliver an immersive supernatural city that's truly special to NTE. Since our first trailer, we've received a lot of feedback and support, which means the world to us. Thank you for your patience and trust as we keep improving and innovating. Your enthusiasm drives us, and we look forward to sharing this fantasy world with you. We hope this game lives up to your expectations!