HoYoverse is opening Evolution Test sign ups for Honkai: Nexus Anima on PC and mobile. Here’s how to register, device requirements, everything that has changed since the first beta, and what players should focus on before release.
What Is The Evolution Test?
Honkai: Nexus Anima is HoYoverse’s creature collecting adventure strategy spin on the Honkai universe, built around exploring multiversal planes and battling alongside Anima companions. The new Evolution Test is the game’s second major closed beta and the largest public look at the project so far.
This round of testing begins on July 9, 2026, with no firm end date announced yet. The build will be available on three platforms: PC, iOS, and Android. Recruitment is live now through the official site and HoYoLAB, and selection is limited, so filling out the survey correctly matters.
How To Sign Up For The Evolution Test
Sign ups for the Evolution Test are handled through HoYoverse’s ecosystem rather than storefronts like Steam or the App Store. To apply, players need an active HoYoverse/HoYolab account, an eligible device, and a few minutes to complete a short but detailed survey.
After logging in on the official Honkai: Nexus Anima site, players are directed to the Evolution Test recruitment page. There, a questionnaire collects region, platform preference, approximate playtime availability, and device specifications. Only accounts in supported regions can submit the form, and each account is limited to a single application, though you can usually indicate more than one platform you are willing to test on.
Submitting the survey does not guarantee access. HoYoverse traditionally prioritizes a spread of regions, device types, and experience levels, so lower end phones or first time Honkai players still have a chance if they meet the minimum spec. Invitations are typically distributed by email and via in app notification on HoYoLAB a few days before the test begins, and those selected receive a unique download link or instructions per platform.
Platforms, Specs, And Recommended Devices
Honkai: Nexus Anima’s Evolution Test targets a broader range of hardware than the first beta, but the developers are up front that playing close to the minimum spec can affect frame rate and loading.
On PC, players can expect a hardware profile roughly in line with late last generation gacha RPGs. A modern quad core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a mid range GPU are strongly recommended if you want to push higher resolutions or frame rates. Storage footprint is larger than in the first test due to expanded content, so planning extra space is wise.
Mobile is split across Android and iOS. Android applicants are asked to provide chipset, RAM, and OS details in the survey, and the device recommendations emphasize relatively recent SoCs. Phones in the Snapdragon 778G class or better with at least 6 GB of RAM should handle the default settings, while lighter devices may need reduced graphics presets. On iOS, the recommended line is current or slightly older flagship iPhones and iPads, where HoYoverse can better control performance tuning.
Across all platforms, a stable broadband connection is listed as essential because combat encounters, social systems, and progression are all tied to online servers. Players on metered mobile connections should be aware that both download size and ongoing patch updates can be substantial.
What Has Changed Since The First Test?
HoYoverse is treating the Evolution Test as a reaction to feedback from the initial closed beta. One of the headline changes is a reworked early game flow. The opening chapters now introduce core systems earlier, including Anima bonding, elemental synergies, and terrain interaction rules in combat. This aims to reduce the feeling that players are “auto battling” before they understand why builds work.
Combat pacing itself has been refined. Enemy AI patterns have been adjusted to push more positional play, and several Anima abilities have been tweaked to create clearer roles, such as tanks that manipulate aggro lines and controllers that set up combo zones. Cooldown timings and resource costs have been smoothed to limit frustrating downtime, while still leaving space for turn planning.
Exploration has also expanded since the first test. Additional planes and side routes branch off from the main story, with more environmental storytelling and optional encounters that reward careful routing. Traversal between nodes on the world map feels less linear, and there are more reasons to revisit earlier areas to hunt for secrets or recruit specific Anima.
Quality of life is another major focus of the Evolution Test. Interface readability has been overhauled, from clearer combat tooltips to streamlined menus for managing multiple Anima. The team added better filter and sort options in roster screens, simplified enhancement paths for early units, and improved controller and keyboard bindings on PC so swapping leads in combat is more responsive.
Finally, the beta extends social and progression systems that were only lightly sketched in the first test. Daily and weekly task structures have been revised to lean more on varied objectives rather than repeating the same node, and early meta progression currencies are tuned to avoid hard walls in the first week of play.
Evolution Test Structure And Progression
The Evolution Test is intended to simulate a near launch environment but does not represent the full release build. Account data will almost certainly be wiped when the test ends, although HoYoverse may offer small launch rewards to participants, such as profile cosmetics or an early Anima voucher.
Content wise, players can expect a sizable chunk of the main story that carries the Traveler through multiple planes, several recruitable Anima spanning different elements and roles, and a selection of repeatable combat challenges. Some late game systems, competitive modes, or monetization hooks may be either locked or heavily simplified so that testers focus on mechanics and stability rather than full progression grinding.
Because this test crosses PC and mobile, cross progression is an important aspect to watch. HoYoverse typically allows a single account’s progress to sync across platforms, and beta data is used to validate that transition. Swapping from mobile exploration sessions to PC based challenge runs is part of the fantasy for many players, so testing how seamless that feels matters.
What Players Should Watch Before Launch
For players who get into the Evolution Test, the most useful mindset is to treat it like a chance to shape the launch build rather than a head start. HoYoverse monitors data closely, but clear feedback on specific systems is even more valuable.
One key area to watch is combat clarity. Because Honkai: Nexus Anima mixes tactical positioning with flashy skill animations, it is easy for the battlefield to become visually noisy. Testers should pay attention to whether they can quickly read enemy intent, status effects on their Anima, and terrain modifiers, especially on mobile screens where information density can overwhelm.
Balance between different Anima and team archetypes will be another big talking point. Early metas in games like this can be dominated by one or two obvious combinations. Noting whether elemental counters, defensive tools, and off meta strategies feel viable can guide future tuning passes. Likewise, any unit that seems mandatory for progression is worth flagging.
On the exploration side, watch how rewarding it feels to deviate from the critical path. The best parts of a multiverse roadmap structure come when optional diversions feed back into your main build, so testers should pay attention to whether side content grants meaningful resources, interesting lore, or unique Anima variants rather than only minor currencies.
Technical performance is perhaps the most blunt but crucial category. Players should note frame rate drops in heavier combat scenes, infinite loading issues when moving between planes, network instability, and battery drain or thermal throttling on phones. These reports are especially valuable if paired with precise device and settings information.
Finally, keep an eye on how the game’s pacing feels over several days. HoYoverse tends to build long running live service loops, so the daily and weekly structure in the Evolution Test will be a dry run for launch. If login routines become tedious or if energy systems bottleneck experimentation with different Anima teams too quickly, that is feedback worth submitting.
Should You Try To Get In?
If you are already invested in the Honkai universe or enjoy party based gacha RPGs with a heavier tactical layer, the Evolution Test is worth chasing. It offers an early look at how HoYoverse is mixing creature collection, plane hopping exploration, and grid influenced combat into a single package, and your feedback stands a better chance of being heard now than after launch.
For more casual players, the biggest reasons to apply are curiosity about the multiverse setting and the chance to see whether your device can comfortably run the game before release. Just remember that this is still a beta. You will hit rough edges, and your progress will not last, but in return you get to help steer Honkai: Nexus Anima toward a stronger debut.