Honkai Star Rail: Developing Mobile Games on Xianzhou Chapter 4: Turn-Based Game—Time for a Meta Shift?

At Herta Space Station, the post-disaster reconstruction efforts had concluded.

The surviving researchers resud their usual peaceful and leisurely lives.

In a eting room, one slacking-off scientist discreetly scrolled through his phone under the table. Compared to his colleague droning on at the podium, he found spending ti on gas far more aningful.

He opened the section for new releases and started scrolling down.

Suddenly, he spotted "Honkai: Star Rail."

"Star Rail?"

"Aren't these the sa Naless travelers who assisted us recently with their Astral Express?"

"I rember it being parked at the space station's Railway Platform for so ti!"

"How intriguing! Let take a look!"

On Xianzhou Luofu:

Qingque was indulging in his usual leisurely slacking off. However, due to stern warnings from the terrifying leader of the Divination Commission recently, he could no longer openly shirk work. Instead, he seized monts during breaks to browse Yuzhao discreetly.

"Little Guizi seems to have started streaming lately; let's check it out."

"Huh? Why did he switch from variety shows to gaming streams?"

"Wait, wait, wait!"

"You sure this is a ga?"

"Aren't these wanted criminals Kafka and Herta? I saw their warrants just this morning!"

"Oh-ho, now that's intriguing!"

"Forget cards after work today, I want to see what this ga's storyline is all about!"

Onboard the Astral Express.

In the vast cabin, aside from Pom-Pom the conductor, only Welt and Hiko remained present.

Old Yang sat by the window in the Parlor Car, engrossed in reading a book.

Outside, a planet blanketed in ice and snow stretched before them.

However, he wasn't fully focused on his reading, occasionally glancing at the scenery outside.

Hiko approached with a cup of coffee and took a seat nearby.

"Worried about that child?"

"Understandably so," Old Yang replied with a smile. "This is their first Trailblazing journey after all; it's natural to feel concerned."

"No, young people need opportunities for growth," said Old Yang.

"Then why not relax a bit? How about trying this new blend of coffee I've just prepared?"

Gazing at the dark liquid in front of him, Old Yang suddenly felt a tightness in his throat and a dryness in his mouth.

He hastily reached for his phone.

"Uh... no, thank you. When I unwind, I prefer playing gas or sothing similar."

In truth, there were no gas installed on Old Yang's phone. So, he opened the section for new releases, intending to download one casually to avoid suspicion.

Suddenly, amidst the dizzying array of ga titles, one particular na caught his attention.

Hiko keenly noticed the change in Old Yang's expression and asked, "What seems to be the matter?"

"Take a look at this ga."

"Honkai: Star Rail? It appears to be thed around our Astral Express."

"You're right." Old Yang adjusted his glasses. "Its logo features a train icon."

"In the past, so developers incorporated train elents into their gas. However, since they weren't actual passengers on the Astral Express like The Naless, their creations often veered wildly from reality, bearing little resemblance to our genuine Trailblazing journey."

Old Yang understood that Hiko was being quite diplomatic. Rather than describing them as "wildly imaginative," it would have been more accurate to call those gas outright nonsensical.

They were simply trashy attempts to capitalize on the popularity of the Astral Express.

Clearly, Hiko assud this new ga would be similar, already expecting the worst.

However, Old Yang didn't share her sentint.

Instead of focusing on the latter part of the title, he paid closer attention to its prefix:

Honkai!

Hopefully, the ga developers used "Honkai" as an adjective rather than referring to the concept of chaos and destruction he had imagined.

"Well, since we're both free for once, why don't we take a look at this ga together?"

"Sounds good," Hiko enthusiastically agreed. "Just so you know, if it turns out to be one of those cheap, poorly made gas, I won't stick around."

Unbeknownst to Lin Yu, his newly released mobile ga had already begun attracting attention from certain individuals across the Galaxy.

At that mont, alongside Guinaifen's live stream, the turn-based gaplay of "Honkai: Stellar Rail" was about to be unveiled—

Another Stellaron Hunter's voice echoed behind the screen:

"Can this mission at least let have so fun? The previous ones were incredibly dull."

"My apologies. Today's task is indeed tedious—rely placing the target inside," Kafka responded. Then, her tone shifted, "But I won't stop you if you want to spice things up. After all..."

As she finished speaking, the space cabin door automatically opened.

Kafka stepped forward, hands resting on her hips.

Facing her were three nacing Voidrangers!

"After all, what isn't scripted by Elio doesn't matter!"

She drew her dual pistols.

Her pupils dilated instantly.

A joyful smile curved her lips, as if reaching the climax of an impromptu performance!

It seed like the next mont would show Kafka unleashing a barrage with her submachine guns against the Voidrangers.

Most viewers, including Guinaifen, didn't fully grasp the earlier conversation. However, they understood one thing:

The Stellaron Hunters were planning sothing significant!

A battle with the Antimatter Legion was inevitable!

This scene confird their expectations.

Just as the dramatic tension reached its peak, however, the video abruptly paused.

Cracks then appeared on the screen.

When it resud, both sides—the allies and enemies—were positioned for a turn-based combat sequence, standing stationary.

"Huh?"

"I've already taken off my pants for this scene, and you show this?"

"If I'm not mistaken, that's a turn-based ga!"

"Feeling a bit let down; I thought it would be more epic."

"I was genuinely intrigued at first, with such a promising start, but turns out it's just a turn-based ga."

"This gaplay style is so outdated!"