Star Trace

Star Trace (星溯) is a newly announced anime-style action RPG (Gacha game) developed by Chengdu Nantangyu Xingshu Network Technology Co., Ltd. (成都南棠羽星溯网络科技有限公司 / NUTAYU / 南棠羽 Studio). It is a free-to-play anime action RPG with Soulslike combat elements, a 3-character party system (like most Gacha games tend to feature), and a mix of mecha/sci-fi and fantasy. Confirmed platforms are PC, iOS, and Android (some trailer descriptions also mention consoles).

Target release

China – on PC in 2028 Q1; on mobile (iOS/Android) in 2028 Q2. The exact dates are subject to change. No publisher has been announced (the studio appears to be developing it independently so far). No global release has been confirmed either, though a Japanese trailer and Japanese voice cast exist, suggesting they are already expanding in to Japan.

The team is reported to be over 100+ people. Producer is 蛋蛋 (Xiao Jianwen / 肖健文), who previously worked on projects such as 萌想物语, 生化少女, 苍雾残响, and 繁星永奏. Development has been underway for at least several years – with the announcement being made only recently.

Combat Style

Real-time action combat with strong Soulslike influences.

Parry (弹反) is a core mechanic – it works against both melee attacks and projectiles (you can deflect enemy shots, which is kinda cool).
Dodge / perfect dodge (极限闪避).
Normal attacks, two skills, and special ultimate-style attacks with cut-in cinematics (like every Gacha game).
3-character party with instant switching.
Bosses have a stagger / toughness / poise bar (削韧); depleting it creates a large vulnerability window for additional damage.
Parries and skill use consume skill points, adding a layer of resource management.
Weapons shown include single-handed swords, spears/lances, firearms, etc.

Demo footage released recently features bosses such as the mechanical “Ruins Commander” (遗迹指挥官) and the beast-type “Ice Crystal Beast” (冰晶兽). Combat is described as more parry-focused (akin to another Gacha game like Silver Palace), than pure button-mashing common in many current Gacha games.

Graphical and Character Style: High-production Anime 3D visuals. Character designs are predominantly female and varied – no males have been shown yet but that doesn’t mean there won’t be males available. There are giant female-form mecha/robots (possibly pilotable which would be sick).

Both the Chinese and Japanese voice casts are already assigned (protagonist voiced by Orihara Kurumi / 折原くるみ; others include Tashima Saran / 田嶌紗蘭 from The Idolmaster Shiny Colors). Both Chinese and Japanese trailers exist as well.

Beta Tests, Creator Programs, and Timeline

Previous beta tests: None publicly announced or run. The project was reported in Chinese media around 2024 under an earlier related name, but nothing of note was found.
Upcoming beta tests: None announced as of November 2026.
Content creator programs: None announced as of November 2026.
Pre-registration is open (primarily China via TapTap and related platforms). An official QQ group also exists.

Star Trace is an ambitious mid-to-late 2020s Chinese Action Gacha game with Soulslike combat, a distinctive setting, and strong visual emphasis on attractive Waifu’s. Official release is targeted for 2028 in China, global plans and full systems are unconfirmed, and no tests or creator programs have been announced yet.