Zenless Zone Zero release date, gameplay & everything we know
HoYoverseFollowing the success of Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact, HoYoverse have been working on another gacha title called Zenless Zone Zero. The action-packed RPG is almost here, and there are plenty of surprises when it comes to its combat, setting, and lore.
Here’s everything we know about Zenless Zone Zero, including the official release date, confirmed characters, story, and other details.
Release date & time
Zenless Zone Zero will be released on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET / 3 AM BST (July 4). HoYoverse confirmed the date on May 28 and launched a web event for players to stock up on useful items before the game comes out.
Platforms
ZZZ will launch on PlayStation 5, mobile (Android and iOS), and PC. Fans had the chance to try the title through beta tests on all these platforms in the months prior to its release.
It is important to note that previous titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have made their way to the PlayStation 5, but Xbox and Nintendo Switch users are still waiting for them. In an interview with IGN, producer Zhenyu Li revealed they’re thinking about bringing ZZZ to Nintendo and Xbox consoles, although they haven’t started working on these ports.
On the other hand, HoYoverse haven’t mentioned a PS4 version for ZZZ, so it probably won’t make it to the last-gen system.
How to preload
PC
To preload the game, download the ZZZ client from the official website and launch it to start downloading all the game files. While the file size is around 57 GB on PC, you’ll need 115 GB of free space for installation.
Alternatively, PC users can also preload the game through the Epic Games Store client.
Mobile (Android & iOS)
If you pre-registered, you just need to head to Google Play on Android or the App Store on iOS and tap the ‘Install’ button on the game’s page. The installation process requires 20 GB on Android and 26 GB on iOS.
PS5
PlayStation 5 players can only preload ZZZ if they purchase the Pre-Order Bundle which costs $9.99 / £9.49. If you don’t want to spend money, you’ll need to wait until the game launches on July 4 at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET / 3 AM BST (July 5).
Is Zenless Zone Zero free-to-play?
Yes, Zenless Zone Zero is a free-to-play gacha game like other HoYoverse titles such as Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact. The gacha mechanics are expected to be quite similar to these games as well.
Gameplay & combat
ZZZ will feature action-hack & slash combat and roguelike elements. Mostly, you’ll be exploring locations and fighting monsters, and like other roguelikes, you might witness a certain level of randomness in these levels.
The ramen shop revealed in the trailers also hints at Zenless Zone Zero being a roguelike. These shops grant buffs to the character in terms of HP, attack, status effects, and upgrades. This is very similar to the meal system in Monster Hunter titles.
Based on the official press release that mentions Unlimited QTEs, players can look forward to enjoying combat mechanics similar to previous HoYoverse titles like Honkai Impact 3rd. To give you some context, QTEs are quick-time events and, usually, you’ll have to press the desired buttons to activate them.
In one of the trailers, fans also noticed that enemies can be staggered, and in this state, you can unleash multiple attacks on the defenseless opponent.
HoYoverseStory & setting
Zenless Zone Zero takes place in a post-apocalyptic world called New Eridu, the last remaining urban civilization. Hollows, a supernatural disaster, not only destroyed the entire world but opened gateways that let in monsters from other dimensions.
New Eridu survived the disasters because of its technology that allowed the extraction of resources from the Hollows. However, this led to the industrialization and monetization of the Hollows, and gangs, corporations, and fanatics now actively fight to gain a monopoly over it.
In Zenless Zone Zero, you play as a Proxy who guides others while exploring the Hollows. Throughout the campaign, you’ll frequently fight monsters in the Hollows, improve your damage, and get to know more about the surrounding world.
HoYoverseEndgame modes explained
- Hollow Zero: This is a roguelike mode similar to Honkai Star Rail’s Simulated Universe. Players start their run with one Agent and can add teammates while clearing stages and defeating enemies. Different stages can grant different bonuses and buffs, and rewards reset weekly. Playing this mode doesn’t require spending any materials.
- Shiyu Defense – This is a straightforward mode where you’ll need to defeat all enemies in a limited amount of time. Shiyu Defense is ZZZ’s equivalent of HSR’s Memory of Chaos, which means the better you perform, the better the rewards. Additionally, tougher challenges will require you to build two different teams of three.
- Rally Commissions – These are combat-focused challenges players can complete to earn rewards. You won’t be doing any exploration in this mode, as its only objective is to defeat all enemies in a set stage. While most Rally Commissions can only be done once, the Area Purge Rally Commission resets weekly to reward players with more items and resources.
Is Zenless Zone Zero multiplayer or single-player?
Zenless Zone Zero will include multiplayer, giving players the chance to take special challenges alongside friends. While Honkai Star Rail doesn’t feature multiplayer, fans believe the system in ZZZ will work similarly to the one in Genshin Impact.
For more information on the topic, you can check out our detailed guide on ZZZ multiplayer.
All factions & Agents confirmed
- Cunning Hares – A human resource dispatch agency that deals with commissions related to Hollows. Its members are:
- Anby
- Billy
- Nekomata
- Nicole
- Victoria Housekeeping – Another human resource dispatch agency that boasts a wide range of high-quality services. It has the following members:
- Corin
- Ellen
- Lycaon
- Rina
- Belobog Heavy Industries – A new group in New Eridu that takes care of infrastructure and construction machinery. It has the following members:
- Anton
- Ben
- Grace
- Koleda
- Section 6 – A newly established frontline operational unit of the Special Operations Department of H.A.N.D. They usually carry out the most dangerous tasks and have some of the most powerful members for any faction. The faction has the following members:
- Miyabi
- Soukaku
- OBOLS Squad – Soldier 11 is the only confirmed member of the group and we don’t have more information on it.
- Random Play – This is the video store of the game’s sibling protagonists. Customers watch movies here. These characters belong to Random Play:
- Wise
- Belle
- Sons of Calydon – The biker gang was the last faction introduced in the game, and we only know they work in the Outer Ring of New Eridu. Two characters have been confirmed for this faction:
- Lucy
- Piper Wheel
While these are the factions with playable characters, you’ll also stumble upon others that might not help in adding Agents to your party but will still play a major role in the story:
- Proxy Network
- New Eridu City Administration – Hollow Investigation Association
- H.A.N.D.
- Hollow Raiders
- Red Fang Gang
- Vision Corporation
HoYoverseWhat are dual identities?
Characters have dual identities due to their work as Proxies. From the looks of it, the Proxy identities of characters might be a secret so that their missions in the Hollows do not affect their life in New Eridu, the main city.
Fans of the Persona series will be quick to identify this mechanic. Atlus’ massively popular RPG series splits character lives into two halves. During the day, the characters attend school and socialize with their peers like any other person but take on monsters and solve mysteries during the night.
According to producer Zhenyu Li in a Pocket Tactics interview, Proxies are very different from the protagonists that came before them. As opposed to HSR and Genshin Impact, which already have a main character, ZZZ will grant you more control over the Proxies. You’ll be able to define their roles and personalize your role-playing experience.
ZZZ trailers
The first trailer for Zenless Zone Zero dropped in 2022 and it gave us the first look at New Eridu and over ten playable characters:
Another big trailer showcasing 18 minutes of gameplay including combat, cut-scenes, and the protagonists arrived in September 2022 and hyped fans around the world:
A gameplay trailer dropped during Gamescom 2023, through which you can take a closer look at the combat, the Overworld, gacha mechanics, and more.
During the Tokyo Game Show 2023, Hoyoverse released an Announcement video showcasing the game’s world and characters:
HoYoverse have also revealed some playable character demo videos, and you can check them out below:
Anby
Billy
Nicole
Lycaon
Grace
Soldier 11
Check out the PC requirements and how the pity system works, as well as the banner schedule to be ready for the first premium Agents.