I’m really not sure how this happened, but today is a pretty wild day over in New Eridu. Zenless Zone Zero is going all-out for its first anniversary. And what a party it is! There’s Version 2.0 dropping today, an Xbox port (finally!), and some sort of log-in event where you get to snag a free S-Rank Agent and a W-Engine. Oh, and there’s this gift of 1,600 Polychrome. Seriously, they’re being super generous. You even get a special title and avatar. Talk about showing off to everyone that you were at the bash!
I swear, time flies. Can you even believe it’s been a year since ZZZ dropped? Okay, confession time: it hasn’t actually been a year. Not yet, anyway. The real anniversary isn’t until July 4, 2024. But hey, let’s not split hairs. Most games from HoYo run on a six-week loop for updates, so these anniversary things pop up during whatever update is close to the actual birthday. Gives players like, 40 days-ish to scoop up all the cool freebies.
Now, bear with me — unexpected tangent ahead. Zenless Zone Zero is this super intriguing urban science-fantasy realm. We follow Belle and Wise, a pair of siblings who run, of all things, a retro video store. But here’s the kicker—it’s a front! They’re actually sneaking trained “Agents” into these sketchy areas called “Hollows.” These popped up around New Eridu after some big disaster. Usually, HoYoverse games have the main characters in the spotlight, but here, they’re just chilling in the hub. The Agents do all the heavy combat lifting, which is kinda a twist on the usual, right?
Anyway, rolling out Version 2.0 means the start of some new season story arc. We’re talking new mysteries, characters, all that jazz. Enter Yixuan and Pan Yinhu, fresh faces at S and A ranks. We’re getting a whole new faction, the Yunkui Summit. Bet they’ll shake things up. Yixuan is also stepping in as the first Rupture Agent, a shiny new damage type everyone’s buzzing about.
Oh, and here’s another juicy bit: ZZZ is hitting Xbox, along with Xbox Cloud Gaming! This has been a long time coming, so pop the confetti!
Now, on a less fun note—there’s some drama brewing. HoYoverse is wrapped up in this ongoing skirmish with US-based voice actors across several games (including good ol’ ZZZ). Recasts are happening because of strike actions. Actors are fighting for fair protection, especially against AI potentially replacing them. It’s a mess, really. HoYoverse is playing it cool, blaming it on “scheduling.” But fans see the undercurrents, and it’s all over social media.
So, there you go. New updates, gaming celebrations, and a bit of controversy. Just another day in the world of gaming, I guess.
