As if Zen Zen Zense wasn’t enough a tongue twister. Zenless Zone Zero seemingly came out of nowhere when developer HoYoverse dropped the teaser website for the game without any official announcement. It’s something different from the company’s already existing gacha games and its cousin Honkai Star Rail. Expect real-time combat in an urban fantasy city and style that lands somewhere between Persona and Scarlet Nexus. Here’s what we know so far about Zenless Zone Zero.
What is Zenless Zone Zero?
Zenless Zone Zero is an action roleplaying game from the makers of Honkai Impact, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Star Rail. It was previously believed to be an anime-inspired shooter, but that’s not the case. Instead, it focuses on real-time combat like in Honkai Impact and Genshin Impact. Both those games also feature gacha systems, so ZZZ will probably be the same. A “roguelike gameplay mechanism” was also mentioned in the press release.
Is there a release date for Zenless Zone Zero?
Zenless Zone Zero doesn’t have a release date. There aren’t any details about when to expect it, either. HoYoverse just launched the website and social account for the game last month. In short, we shouldn’t expect a release any time soon. Stay tuned for updates.
Is there a trailer for Zenless Zone Zero?
Yes, there is! HoYoverse released the first trailer in early May along with an updated website and beta announcement. It also dropped a combat trailer during the Summer Game Fest.
The first Zenless Zone Zero trailer takes the viewer on a hype-heavy tour of its main setting, New Eridu. It shows off the futuristic world and characters, who all wield their own unique weapons from guns to hammers. It’s apparent that factions of some sort will butt heads during the story. Who will be at your side as you take on this world’s monsters? That’s still a question left unanswered.
The second trailer features a character called 11, a member of the city’s Defense Force. She fluidly slices through robotic enemies and shows off her acrobatic prowess in the video. Also, she can apparently ignite her sword at will. Other characters that didn’t receive as much love in the first trailer also get to show off their moves in all their high-octane glory.
What is the story for Zenless Zone Zero?
Zenless Zone Zero takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Most of humanity has been wiped out by a disaster dubbed the “Hollows,” which create dimensions filled with monsters called Ethreal out of thin air. New Eridu was the last city to survive the apocalypse, partially because it invented technology capable of extracting resources from the Hollows.
So New Eridu became a sanctuary for the world’s survivors. Then, it attracted even more people with a program that allowed them to venture into the Hollows for their own purposes. Unfortunately, the monetization of the Hollows also caused a political strain between the existing factions in the city. However, that’s not the focus right at the beginning.
Your role is as a “Proxy,” a guide in charge of leading clients through the Hollows. Everyone has a different reason for venturing inside such a dangerous place — something you learn as part of the job. It’s up to the player to make it through these dungeons safely and learn more about the fate of New Eridu in the process.
Who are the characters in Zenless Zone Zero?
A few key characters are pasted over the promotional materials and website. However, there’s very limited information on them. Even their names are still a mystery. There’s a pink-haired girl that wields a hammer (that apparently is part bazooka), a trigger-happy masked man, and others that light up the trailer, but no names. We’ll be sure to update this section with more information as it comes out.
How can I sign up for the Zenless Zone Zero beta?
You can sign up for the closed beta from the official website starting on May 13th, 2022. The kick-off date and closed beta schedule will come later. There’s no end-time to the recruitment yet, but better to do it now than later if it doesn’t take too long, right? Note that the beta will be available for PC and iOS mobile devices only.
Zenless Zone Zero is currently in development.
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