Updated November 6, 2026: This Phase 3 page is now an archive. HoYoverse has announced a global Final Closed Beta for November 25 on PC, Android and iOS, plus a spring 2027 launch window. See the current test announcement.
Honkai Nexus Anima Phase 3 recruitment opened on TapTap in China on September 17, under the name “Aspect Exploration Project.” This is not a public beta. It’s a small-scale confidential testing program whose recruitment has been open for months, and invitations go out in batches whenever the development team needs a particular kind of feedback.
The notice is written specifically for China, with real-name verification, an enterprise WeChat follow-up, and a mini-program binding step. HoYoLAB announced multilingual Phase III recruitment in April; the September TapTap notice updates the China-region application route.
Current status: Recruitment is open through the Honkai: Nexus Anima TapTap game page. No application deadline or test date has been announced, and completing the questionnaire does not guarantee access.
Honkai Nexus Anima Phase 3 Recruitment at a Glance
| Item | What’s confirmed |
|---|---|
| Program | Aspect Exploration Project, Phase 3 |
| Test type | Small-scale confidential test, rolling recruitment |
| Latest entry point | TapTap game page (China) |
| Eligibility | 18+, with matching real-name account information |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android |
| Recruitment deadline | None announced |
| Test schedule | Not announced |
| Monetization | No in-game purchases during the test |
| Progress | Data wiped afterwards |
| Disclosure | NDA required |
What Is the Aspect Exploration Project?
The Aspect Exploration Project gives HoYoverse a smaller pool of players for targeted feedback while the game remains in development. Applying places a player in the selection pool; it does not guarantee access.
The official FAQ frames it as a long-term program with a limited intake. Applicants sit in a pool, and the team draws from that pool in batches depending on what each round of testing is meant to answer. Everyone selected signs a non-disclosure agreement. No screenshots, no livestreams, no videos.
Worth keeping in mind when you read guides. Footage and rankings from earlier tests came from a different build under different rules. The confidential version may have moved on considerably since then, and neither one is the shipping game.
Who Can Apply for the Phase 3 Test?
18 and over, per the TapTap notice. The real-name information on your HoYoverse account has to match your own identity information, which rules out unverified accounts and anyone underage.
The China-region flow runs like this:
- Open the official Honkai: Nexus Anima recruitment notice on TapTap and go to the game page.
- Hit ๆฅๅๆต่ฏ (Apply for Test).
- Fill in the recruitment questionnaire. Contact details need to be accurate, since that’s how they reach you.
- Add the official enterprise WeChat account within five working days, using the QR code from the questionnaire.
- Bind your HoYoverse account and WeChat account in the specified mini program.
Step 4 has a clock on it: the enterprise WeChat account must be added within five working days. Completing all five steps registers the application, but selection happens separately.
Can Players Outside China Apply?
Not through this notice. The TapTap listing, the ๆฅๅๆต่ฏ button, the enterprise WeChat step and the real-name check are all built around the China region, and none of it maps cleanly onto an account registered somewhere else.
The program itself isn’t China-only, though. HoYoLAB’s official Phase III announcement covered the multilingual side of the same Aspect Exploration Project. The confidential-test rules are the same either way.
Neither notice explains how invitations are allocated by region, or whether the two entry points feed the same batches.
Supported Platforms and Test Rules
PC, iOS, and Android are supported this round. Those are the test client’s platforms, and the notice says nothing about launch. For what HoYoverse has actually shown about the worldwide rollout, see our coverage of the official global website and in-game footage.
No purchases during the test, and account data gets deleted when it ends. Access is non-transferable: you can’t lend it, sell it, or pass it along. Breaking the confidentiality agreement or handing off access can get you dropped from the current program and from future confidential tests.
No start date, no end date, no participant count, no invitation schedule. The notice does say the recruitment questionnaire gets updated periodically, which means older screenshots and mirrored forms can be out of date.
How Is This Different From the Evolution Test?
The Evolution Test ran July 9โ27, 2026, on a fixed schedule. HoYoLAB let participants post about it, subject to the usual platform rules. Aspect Exploration works differently. It recruits continuously, admits by invitation only, and binds everyone to an NDA.
The two run on different rules, and merging them will mislead you. Anima stats, systems and progression numbers from July are historical beta data, including everything in our Anima reveal breakdown. They were accurate for that build in that window. No public source can tell you whether any of it still applies to the confidential build, or to the final release.
What Phase 3 Recruitment Doesn’t Confirm
This notice covers recruitment and test participation only. It does not confirm:
- a new global public beta
- a public download date
- the final release date
- final launch platforms
- a recruitment cutoff
- when testing starts, or when invitation waves go out
- whether any given applicant gets in
Phase 3 Test FAQ
Q: How do I apply for Honkai Nexus Anima Phase 3 recruitment?
A: In China, through the official TapTap game page. Tap ๆฅๅๆต่ฏ, fill in the recruitment questionnaire, add the official enterprise WeChat account within five working days using the QR code from the questionnaire, then bind your HoYoverse and WeChat accounts in the specified mini program.
Q: Can players outside China join the Phase 3 test?
A: Not through TapTap. That route is built for the China region. Players elsewhere should use HoYoLAB’s official Phase III announcement.
Q: Does test progress carry over to the full release?
A: No. All account data is deleted when the test period ends, and there are no in-game purchases during the test.
Q: Can I stream or post screenshots from the test?
A: No. Selected testers sign a non-disclosure agreement covering screenshots, livestreams and videos. Breaking it can cost you access to the current program and to future confidential tests.
Q: When is the Honkai: Nexus Anima release date?
A: HoYoverse now targets spring 2027, but has not announced an exact launch date. The Phase 3 notice itself did not contain that window; see the current official announcement summary.
Read Next
- Beginner Guide โ the essential systems and priorities for new players
- Tier List โ current Anima rankings with beta-data boundaries
- Reroll Guide โ target priorities and practical stopping rules
Sources
- Official TapTap Phase 3 recruitment notice โ latest China-region application steps and FAQ, published September 17, 2026
- Official HoYoLAB Phase III recruitment announcement โ multilingual confidential-test scope and ongoing recruitment rules
- Official HoYoLAB Evolution Test notice โ July public-test schedule and disclosure rules used for comparison
Honkai: Nexus Anima is a trademark of HoYoverse. Nexus-Anima.gg is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by HoYoverse. Test details are subject to change; always check the latest official regional notice before applying.