Snowmen and Snowball Fights Await on Winter Star! Early Look at “Petit Planet” New Season, Plus Switch 2 Gameplay [Play Report]

At the “HoYoverse Media Tour 2026,” held in South Korea starting November 3, 2026, we had the opportunity to try out the latest build of the new slow-life game *Petit Planet*, set to launch on December 4. *Note: The Switch 2 version is scheduled for release in 2027.*

With the final beta test now complete and the official launch just around the corner, Game*Spark got an early look at the first seasonal event—"Snow Viewing Season"—which will take place after the game goes live.

On this snow-covered planet, you can enjoy a slow-life experience with a unique twist. Along with our impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2 version—scheduled for release in 2027 and unveiled to the media for the first time—we’ll share our thoughts on the gameplay experience.

*Game screenshots are from the development version.

■ Can’t Wait for the Four Seasons: A Sneak Peek at “Petit Planet’s” First Seasonal Event!

During this hands-on session, we were able to experience “Snow Viewing Season,” a seasonal event for *Petit Planet* that will take place after the official launch on December 4.

Of particular note is the newly introduced “Winter Weather.” By nurturing Luca’s Tree, you’ll unlock changing weather patterns, and during the demo, we were able to freely explore a planet blanketed in snow.As the seasons change, you’ll be able to find materials unique to each season and encounter various creatures. Of course, seasonal furniture and outfits will also be available.

Another highlight is the winter-specific fun, such as building snowmen and throwing snowballs. You can aim and throw the snowballs you’ve picked up in any direction you like. If you try hitting an NPC in the face, they’ll react accordingly.

Also, if you kick a snowball and let it roll along the ground, it gradually grows in size. Once you’ve made one large snowball, carry another one of a suitable size close to it. The two snowballs will then merge, forming a single snowman.You can make one snowman per day, but its final design is said to be random.

The official release will introduce a “Season System.”

It will feature a wide variety of content, including season-exclusive stories, a Season Pass, and quests. At the demo event, we got to play a short segment of the first half of the “Snow Viewing Season” story. We were able to experience our first encounter with the new character “Huyi” and an episode involving the hot spring inn.

There have also been significant updates to the game’s features. For example, “Vignettes” allow anyone to easily enjoy designing spaces by following hints, while “Blueprints” let players save, share, and recreate their favorite spaces—making it easy for even those who aren’t confident in their interior design skills to enjoy creating stylish environments.

You can also recreate Blueprints shared by other players and customize them by adding your own personal touch. The ability to enjoy these casual connections—where you can collaborate indirectly without direct communication—is sure to be a welcome feature for solo players. This is great news for a loner like me.

The “Sea of Stars,” the game’s signature exploration feature, has also been revamped.

You no longer need to consume items when boarding a ship with neighbors to explore Starland. Compared to the early builds, which had various restrictions, the exploration element has been adjusted to be more accessible than ever.

As for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 version, since it’s still a work-in-progress build, there were some areas where the UI and text display weren’t quite polished. However, the ability to use both the physical buttons on the Joy-Con 2 and the touchscreen is a major advantage that makes for a stress-free gaming experience.

Live-service games tend to have a large number of menu icons. When playing with just the GamePad, it’s not uncommon to get confused and wonder, “Which button did I use to access that feature again?” On the other hand, while smartphone touch controls are excellent for accessing various functions, you have to get used to using the virtual pad to move your character.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version not only resolves these control-related issues but is also portable. From playing on a large screen in TV Mode to taking the game on the go in Handheld Mode—and even the improved controls—I felt that the hardware’s strengths were truly put to good use.I truly feel that the Nintendo Switch 2’s nature as an all-in-one gaming console is a perfect match for *Petit Planet*.

Personally, I’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 version incorporate a control experience that takes full advantage of the unique features of the Joy-Con 2.For example, if players could shake the Joy-Con 2 to control a fishing rod or a bug net—or use them for mini-game-style activities that will likely be added in the future—the scope of gameplay would expand even further.

What really stuck with me during the demo was how the changing seasons bring fresh joys to everyday life on the planet. When it snows, you build a snowman and head out to find seasonal materials. These simple, everyday moments are the essence of the game—and sometimes, they can even become a story unique to each player.The true essence of the “slow life” that *Petit Planet* aims to capture seems to be gradually coming into focus.

If winter is coming, naturally, I find myself looking forward to spring, summer, and fall as well. I’m curious to see what seasonal events await us in the future and how the Nintendo Switch 2 version will turn out. I’m already looking forward to seeing what “Petit Planet” has in store once it officially launches.

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