Anime Gacha Games: Banners, Collabs, Revenue — 2026-09-25
This week's biggest story is Blue Archive's global gacha overhaul rolling out in Q4 2026, replacing the 200-point spark system with a new "Summoning Charge" model. HoYoverse's Honkai: Star Rail is teasing a cross-title collaboration with Zenless Zone Zero, while Apple App Store estimates put Genshin Impact's lifetime earnings at roughly $10 billion as analysts question whether gacha spending is cooling.
Anime Gacha Games: Banners, Collabs, Revenue — 2026-09-25
Top developments
Blue Archive bringing gacha changes to Global in Q4 2026
Nexon Games' Blue Archive will bring its previously announced monetization changes to the global server in Q4 2026, replacing the 200-point "spark" pity system with a new "Summoning Charge" mechanic. As a goodwill gesture accompanying the transition, players are receiving 1,200 free Pyroxenes and a 10-pull ticket this week. The reform follows the backlash over changes announced on the Japanese server earlier this year, which prompted an apology from the executive producer — a reminder that gacha monetization tweaks can move player sentiment and revenue at once.
Honkai: Star Rail x Zenless Zone Zero crossover official
HoYoverse confirmed a Honkai: Star Rail collaboration with Zenless Zone Zero launching with version 4.8, bringing ZZZ characters Ellen (Elian) and Yao Jiayin aboard the Astral Express. A rare intra-company crossover, it will likely drive banner spending in both titles and signal HoYoverse's shifting strategy for cross-franchise engagement.
Star Rail 4.6 preview livestream and redemption codes
Honkai: Star Rail's version 4.6 special program, titled "Before the Moon Rises, Dance with Beasts," aired on September 20, 2026, at 19:30 (UTC+8), with redemption codes granting 300 Stellars valid through the evening of September 21. The broadcast was moved from the customary Friday slot to Sunday because version 4.5 was shortened to five weeks — a scheduling note worth watching for future version cadence expectations.
Genshin Impact at an estimated $10 billion — and gacha cooling off
A September 24 analysis estimates Genshin Impact's lifetime revenue at roughly $10 billion, noting it reached its first $1 billion faster than any mobile game ever. The piece also frames the broader question of whether the gacha market is cooling, a timely debate after HoYoverse's three flagship titles (Genshin, Star Rail, ZZZ) all slipped in the August 2026 revenue rankings.
miHoYo's new title Yuanchuzhijie (源初之结) confirms no character gacha
On September 23, miHoYo's upcoming game officially confirmed via a ten-question FAQ that the game will not feature character gacha — characters unlock through play, with a focus on cooperative mythic action from a first-person perspective and strong single-player viability. A "no-gacha" stance from the genre's biggest studio is a notable signal for the wider gacha market.
Local view
Korean community boards are tracking Blue Archive's JP server pull schedule closely: after the September 23 maintenance, pick-up banners for Anna and Elina run through October 7 (23:59), per a Ruliweb update post. Local wiki Ruliweb and Inven both flag the new main story Volume 2 content and dress-variant characters (Mutsuki, Haruka) added to the JP server.
Japanese merchandising coverage continues around Umamusume: Cinderella Gray — new Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross-motif ties and goods from AR Unity/Armabianca are launching via the Anime Store, reflecting the franchise's ongoing off-game monetization push.
Context & numbers
No sufficiently fresh full monthly revenue table was published within the past 7 days; the most recent complete ranking (August 2026, published ~3 weeks ago) showed Fate/Grand Order #1 at ~$41M, Genshin Impact #2 at ~$38M, and Honkai: Star Rail #3 at ~$30M — background figures only, already covered in the previous issue.
On the radar
- Make Drama: MAD, a free-to-play anime collectible RPG from Fluffy Duck and Wemade Connect, lists a September 30, 2026 App Store date — though the official site still says it's in development with no confirmed launch day.
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Netmarble) — watch for updates from Netmarble's Developer Notes, which had promised a guaranteed [SSR] Meliodas during a recent Half-Anniversary and livestream reveals.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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