miHoYo’s Farming Sim Tests Whether It Can Escape Gacha Gravity

miHoYo, the studio behind the $4+ billion-per-year Genshin Impact franchise, is reportedly working on a farming simulation game that the Chinese tech outlet 36氪 is dubbing “Starfield Valley.” This mashup reference highlights how closely the industry is watching to see if the gacha giant can create something truly unique.

The nickname carries weight. Stardew Valley, a farming RPG developed by ConcernedApe in 2016, has sold over 30 million copies thanks to its heartfelt simplicity and lack of monetization pressure. On the other hand, Starfield, Bethesda’s 2023 space RPG, debuted with an 88 Metacritic score but now holds just 56% positive reviews from 118,367 Steam users. This gap between critical acclaim and player satisfaction has turned into a cautionary tale in AAA game development.

miHoYo faces a significant challenge. Each major release from the studio — Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero — operates on a gacha monetization model focused on character acquisition and seasonal content. A farming sim, by its very nature, promotes patience, ownership, and low-stakes progression. These two design philosophies conflict, and players are well aware of this tension.

The comparison to Starfield is more fitting than it first appears. Bethesda’s space adventure grappled with a similar identity crisis: it had an ambitious open-world concept but was limited by systems that felt more like inherited mechanics than tailored designs for the experience. Currently, Starfield only attracts about 3,839 concurrent players on Steam, a sharp drop from its peak at launch in September 2023. Historical trends indicate the studio has essentially moved on — 36氪’s report comes as Bethesda shifts its focus to Elder Scrolls 6 and other projects, leaving Starfield out of the studio’s broader 2.0 content phase.

For miHoYo, this farming project raises a crucial question: can a studio known for its live-service model based on compulsive engagement create a game focused on slowing down? They have the budget — Genshin Impact reportedly raked in over $480 million in its first month — and the technical expertise. What’s uncertain is whether they can resist the urge to add battle passes and limited-time character banners to a more tranquil game.

By The Numbers

Starfield Metacritic Score	88
Starfield Steam Positive Reviews	56% (118,367 reviews)
Starfield Current Steam Players	3,839
Starfield Current Steam Price	$39.99
Stardew Valley Lifetime Sales	30M+ copies

Community feedback on Starfield clearly shows the risks of ambition outpacing execution. One Steam reviewer bluntly stated, “shallow, clunky, superficial, waste of time.” This sentiment, echoed throughout the reviews, reflects a game that promised exploration but ultimately delivered repetition. If miHoYo’s farming title aims to stand out, it must actively avoid this pitfall.

What To Watch

• Monetization disclosure: The first detail to keep an eye on is how miHoYo plans to structure the business model. A premium buy-to-play price would indicate a serious commitment to the genre’s conventions. However, if they announce seasonal battle passes or gacha elements, that will only confirm skeptics’ fears.
• Platform targeting: miHoYo’s current games launch on mobile, PC, and console simultaneously. A farming sim aimed at mobile will face different design constraints and player expectations compared to one designed for Steam or Nintendo Switch, where Stardew Valley’s audience resides.
• Starfield’s trajectory as a reference point: With Bethesda resisting the migration to Unreal Engine 5 to keep mod support and fans already using Starfield assets for Hammerfell previews, the ongoing decline of the older game serves as a live case study. Whether miHoYo commits to long-term support for its farming project or treats it as an experiment will shape its legacy beyond the gacha realm.