Xbox

It’s a big day in New Eridu as Zenless Zone Zero goes all-in on its first anniversary celebrations, including the launch of Version 2.0, a long-hoped-for Xbox port, and a log-in event that gifts players with their choice of a free S-Rank Agent and free S-Rank W-Engine from the gacha’s standard banner, along with 1,600 Polychrome (currency that can be exchanged for 10 pulls on any Agent or W-Engine banner in the gacha), and an exclusive profile title and avatar so you can show off that you were there at the party.

If you’re thinking “wow, I can’t believe it’s been a year already since Zenless Zone Zero came out!”, you’re quite correct. ZZZ’s actual first birthday isn’t for nearly another month – Version 1.0 launched on July 4, 2024 – but since most HoYo games operate on a regular six-week schedule, anniversary events are traditionally held during whichever update period contains the big day, ensuring that players have around 40 days to log in and claim all the celebratory bonuses.

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Zenless Zone Zero is an urban science-fantasy RPG following the exploits of siblings Belle and Wise, whose retro video store is a front for their side-hustle escorting trained “Agents” through forbidden and dangerous exclusion zones – known as “Hollows” – that have sprung up around their home city of New Eridu following a large-scale disaster. In a departure from HoYoverse tradition, the protagonists are only playable in the hub world, while the Agent characters are the ones featured in the gacha and whom the player controls during combat.

Version 2.0 marks the official beginning of a second season story for ZZZ, promising to expand on the mysteries introduced during the game’s first year, as well as introducing new characters and storylines. To that end, today also sees the debut of Yixuan and Pan Yinhu, two brand-new Agents at S-Rank and A-Rank rarity, respectively; and with them the game’s 11th playable faction, Yunkui Summit, who are sure to play a major role in upcoming chapters. Yixuan is also the game’s first Rupture Agent, a brand-new damage type that marks the first new combat class added to the game since launch.

In addition to the official start of Season 2, today also sees Zenless Zone Zero – which launched last year for PC, PS5, and mobile devices – make its long-anticipated debut on Xbox Series consoles, as well as the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

Event-exclusive character Yixuan makes her debut alongside a first-time rerun for popular recent addition Astra Yao; her companion, Pan Yinhu, is due to join the standard banner pool once the anniversary update ends. | Image credit: HoYoverse

Zenless Zone Zero 2.0 comes out at a time when HoYoverse is still at the centre of an ongoing labour dispute with many of the US-based voice actors who perform the English language dubs of ZZZ along with Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

Several actors from all three games have been replaced over the past few months, including close to half of the original lead cast of Zenless; some have taken to social media to link the loss of their roles with their participation in the strike action, which seeks to ensure video game voice actors receive adequate protection in line with other performers against generative AI being trained on their work. HoYoverse has so far declined to comment on the recasts beyond attributing them to “recording scheduling arrangements”.

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