Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia: Everything We Know About Version 4.0’s Wildest Destination

The reveal of Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia marks a major narrative and structural turning point for HoYoverse’s space-fantasy RPG. Following the emotional gravity of Penacony and the prolonged Version 3.8 cycle, Planarcadia is shaping up to be a sharp tonal pivot—one defined by madness, spectacle, and the chaotic influence of Aha, the Aeon of Elation.

With Version 4.0 officially delayed but now firmly on the horizon, HoYoverse has begun laying the groundwork through lore teases, environmental previews, and character silhouettes. This article consolidates everything currently known—and reasonably inferred—about Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia, including its lore significance, thematic direction, factions, teased characters, and what it likely means for gameplay going forward.

Why Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia Matters

Planarcadia is not just another stop on the Astral Express. From the official wording alone, HoYoverse is signaling that this planet plays a cosmic-scale role in the ongoing conflict involving multiple Aeons.

Key phrase from HoYoverse’s official tease:

“The Express once crashed into and departed from ‘Planarcadia.’ There, Aha graced the pursuers of Elation with a reward: join THEIR game and become an ‘Aeon’ for a minute.”

This is unprecedented. No previous planet has offered even a temporary ascension to Aeonhood. That single line elevates Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia from a narrative backdrop to a mechanical and philosophical experiment within the Star Rail universe.

Planarcadia and Aha: Aeon of Elation Explained

To understand Planarcadia, you must understand Aha.

Aha represents:

• Elation

• Absurdity

• Games within games

• Meaning derived from chaos rather than order

Unlike Aeons tied to preservation, destruction, or harmony, Aha thrives on breaking expectations. If Nanook threatens the universe through raw force, Aha destabilizes it through unpredictability.

That makes Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia inherently different from:

• Jarilo-VI (Survival and oppression)

• Xianzhou Luofu (Immortality and duty)

• Penacony (Dreams, memory, and control)

Planarcadia is likely a cosmic playground, where rules are optional, identity is fluid, and narrative structure itself may be subverted.

Visual Direction: Amusement Park, Carnival, or Cosmic Stage?

Early preview images strongly suggest that Planarcadia is:

• Bright

• Artificial

• Theatrical

• Structured like an amusement park or festival city

This aligns perfectly with Aha’s philosophy. Rather than ancient ruins or political capitals, Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia appears to be a constructed environment—possibly designed explicitly as a “game” by followers of Elation.

Important caveat from HoYoverse:

• All preview images are in-development

• Only the launch version should be treated as final

Still, the direction is clear: expect spectacle over solemnity.

The Express Has Been Here Before (And Left)

One subtle but critical detail is that the Astral Express has already visited Planarcadia in the past.

This implies:

• A hidden chapter in the Express’s history

• Unresolved consequences from the prior visit

• Possible memory gaps or erased records

In Honkai Star Rail’s storytelling, revisiting past locations often triggers:

• Revelations about the Trailblazer

• Aeon-level manipulation

• Retcons that reframe earlier assumptions

This alone makes Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia narratively dangerous—in a good way.

Factions Expected in Planarcadia

Based on established lore, two Elation-aligned factions are almost guaranteed to appear.

The Masked Fools

• Tricksters

• Performers

• Agents of chaos

• Known for turning serious situations into farce

The Mourning Actors

• Theatrical extremists

• Use performance to express grief and meaninglessness

• Often appear when tragedy and absurdity overlap

Both factions fit Planarcadia’s tone and are thematically incompatible with orderly Paths like Harmony or Preservation. Their involvement suggests:

• Unreliable NPCs

• Quests with deceptive outcomes

• Moral ambiguity rather than clean resolutions

Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia Characters: Teased Silhouettes

HoYoverse teased six character silhouettes associated with Version 4.0 and beyond. While none are officially confirmed, community consensus and existing leaks make some identities highly likely.

1. Sparkle (Almost Certain)

• Widely believed to be the first true Elation character

• Silhouette matches perfectly

• Long rumored to debut in Version 4.x

Sparkle’s presence would anchor Planarcadia mechanically to the Path of Elation, potentially introducing:

• RNG-based buffs

• Rule-breaking skills

• Meta-disruptive mechanics

2. Pearl or Yaoguang

• Elegant silhouette

• Luxurious attire

• Likely high-status character within Planarcadia

Pearl is currently the favored guess due to costume design, but Yaoguang remains possible depending on narrative role.

3. Blade (Alternate Version)

• Familiar stance and outline

• Strong rumors of a new Blade iteration in 4.x

• Fits HoYoverse’s pattern of revisiting popular characters with altered Paths

If true, this would mirror Dan Heng’s transformation—suggesting Planarcadia may catalyze identity rewrites.

4. La Mancha (Galaxy Rangers)

• Silhouette resembles Boothill

• Rumored leader of the Galaxy Rangers

• Likely connected to Elation through performative justice

La Mancha’s presence could expand the Galaxy Rangers from lore flavor into a major faction.

5. Silver Wolf

• Instantly recognizable outline

• Logical fit for a “game-like” world

• Hacker identity aligns with rule-breaking themes

Silver Wolf in Planarcadia suggests heavy meta commentary and possible fourth-wall-adjacent storytelling.

6. Yae Sakura EXPY

• Strong resemblance to Honkai Impact 3rd’s Yae Sakura

• Long-standing rumors of her Star Rail counterpart

• Would be a major cross-title fanservice moment

If confirmed, this would further elevate Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia as a crossover-heavy, high-impact arc.

Gameplay Implications of Planarcadia

While no mechanics are confirmed, Planarcadia’s themes strongly imply changes in how the game is played.

Possible gameplay shifts:

• Temporary transformation states (becoming an “Aeon for a minute”)

• Non-linear quest outcomes

• Mini-games integrated into combat or exploration

• Narrative choices with no “correct” answer

HoYoverse has already experimented with:

• Dream logic (Penacony)

• Memory distortion

• Scripted perspective shifts

Planarcadia is the natural escalation of those ideas.

Version 3.8 Delay: Strategic, Not Accidental

Version 3.8 running for eight weeks is highly unusual. This suggests:

• Planarcadia is content-dense

• Systems are being stress-tested

• New mechanics require longer polish

The 1,000 Stellar Jade and Fuel compensation is less about apology and more about buying time for something bigger.

From a production standpoint, Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia appears to be a foundational expansion, not a filler world.

Comparing Planarcadia to Penacony

Penacony focused on:

• Dreams

• Control

• Psychological manipulation

Planarcadia appears to focus on:

• Games

• Freedom

• Absurdity

Where Penacony asked “What is real?”, Planarcadia asks:

“Does it matter?”

That philosophical shift is significant—and risky. But it also opens the door to Star Rail’s boldest storytelling yet.

What Comes After Planarcadia?

Planarcadia’s positioning suggests it may:

• Recontextualize Aeons beyond good/evil binaries

• Introduce temporary Path-switching

• Challenge the Trailblazer’s role as observer vs participant

If becoming an Aeon—even briefly—is possible, then the hierarchy of the universe is no longer absolute.

Final Thoughts

Honkai Star Rail Next Planet Planarcadia is not just the next destination—it is a thematic experiment that challenges how the game tells stories, frames power, and engages players.

With Aha’s influence, teased high-profile characters, and an openly playful yet unsettling tone, Planarcadia has the potential to be:

• The most divisive planet so far

• Or the most memorable

Either way, it will not be forgettable.

As Version 4.0 approaches, one thing is clear: the Astral Express is about to enter a world where the rules are optional—and the joke may be on us.