Aniimo opens Idyll to Pathfinders starting September 15 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Game Pass. Pawprint Studio’s free-to-play open-world RPG launches with more than 200 creatures to discover, collect, and train, including a new pair of squirrel-like companions named Squarrel and Squashel.
U.S. access is scheduled for September 15, 2026, while the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand are listed for September 16. The preload is already available, so PC players can download the roughly 40 GB game before their local launch time.
Aniimo launch times by region
Here are the listed times for Aniimo’s release in each region.
September 15, 2026
- West Coast U.S.: 7 p.m. PST
- East Coast U.S.: 10 p.m. EST
September 16, 2026
- UK: 3 a.m. BST
- Europe: 4 p.m. CEST
- Australia: 12 p.m. AEST
- New Zealand: 3 p.m. NZST
Aniimo preload is already available
Aniimo’s preload became available on September 14 at 10 a.m. (UTC+8). Players can download the launcher through the official Aniimo website before the game unlocks in their region.
The Aniimo Steam page also provides the game’s system specifications for anyone checking whether their PC can run it.
More than 200 creatures await in Idyll
Aniimo’s collection system goes beyond catching creatures. Players can Twine with creatures they own and essentially become them, using their abilities to solve puzzles, win battles, and overcome challenges. Creature appearances can depend on the environment, weather, phenomena, and time of day, while most Aniimo can evolve.
Squarrel rolls down hillsides while clutching its tail, then attacks with fast combo mechanics built around powerful tail abilities. Its evolution, Squashel, gives collectors another companion line to pursue across Idyll’s biomes.
Beta feedback changed key launch systems
The Irisalis Legendary Aniimo encounter has been redesigned across capture, gameplay, and the encounter ritual. Pawprint Studio says the revised structure will also serve as the foundation for future Legendary Aniimo events.
Training now includes a simplified Held Item System, higher Star Dust drop rates, and progression caps that unlock naturally as an Aniimo levels up. Homeland progression and upgrades have been refined as well, with additional map features, activities, and interactive elements added to the area.
Homeland and Egg Heist add ways to spend time in Idyll
Each Pathfinder has a personal RV at a campsite in the open world. Returning to Homeland allows players to plant crops, build decorations, and arrange their space with Aniimo. A floating metropolis also gives Pathfinders a place to meet other players, share stories, and enter competitive battles.
For a more direct multiplayer activity, the PVEVP mode Egg Heist puts three-player teams into the Lost Isles for real-time searches and battles. The launch lineup also includes controls optimized for mobile devices and gamepads, multilingual voice acting for the main storyline, and improved translations across supported languages.
Which Aniimo will join your collection first, Squarrel, Squashel, or another of the more than 200 creatures? Share your pick in the comments, then follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Source: PC Gamer
