If you want more character-based anime action, set your sights on Zenless Zone Zero. This is just one of the upcoming games from the studio behind Genshin Impact. HoYoverse is slowly teasing out info about all of Zenless’s characters, which look like they’ll definitely be the focus once again. Even if we don’t know exactly how Zenless works yet, we’re expecting to have our favorites, whether it’s for their aesthetic or their combat abilities. Will there be tier lists? There are probably already tier lists, come on.
As we find out more about Zenless Zone Zero we’ll be keeping track of what you want to know right here from the names and factions of each character, all the gameplay trailers, and any comments HoYoverse makes on how Zenless will be monetized. Is it a gacha game? HoYoverse hasn’t specifically said so, but that feels like a really safe bet.
When will Zenless Zone Zero release?
We don’t have a release date yet for Zenless Zone Zero. But since HoYoverse will shortly be running their Tuning Test, we can hope that it’s an indication that the game’s development is chugging along steadily, and hopefully its final stages before release won’t take too long to follow.
Will there be a Zenless Zone Zero beta? When can we play it?
HoYoverse will be running a “Tuning Test”—a closed beta, basically—for Zenless Zone Zero. While the sign-up window has closed, the Tuning Test is set to begin in early August, with its end date yet to be determined.
Here are the official Tuning Test times:
Test Start Time: 2022/08/05 10:00 (UTC+8)
Test End Time: To be announced
Zenless Zone Zero Trailers
The reveal trailer for Zenless Zone Zero gives away a lot of its characters, if not their names, some of the factions, and a lot of action combat.
The second trailer for Zenless Zone Zero gives another look at combat, and this time at what might be some combo moves or more elemental reactions between characters.
Zenless Zone Zero Gameplay
Zenless Zone Zero gameplay
Before we get to the details, here’s the Zenless setting, in brief: Urban fantasy city New Eridu, known as the “last oasis” is overrun by troublesome dimensional holes called Hollows. You’ll be hopping in these holes to extract the resource known as Ether, battle the nasty monsters that live there called Ethereals, and try not to get corrupted yourself. Oh, also there are “lawless thugs” and “hollow raiders”, Proxies, and the agents of the Hollow Investigative Association in there.
No surprise that Zenless is going to have action combat that feels familiar to Genshin Impact. The trailers we’ve seen so far show off melee and ranged attacks with pistols, swords, hammers, and more.
Based on the initial combat trailer, it looks like we’ll be doing plenty of combat in these dark, Hollow areas. Hopefully we’ll spend our non-combat time exploring and picking up quests in prettier New Eridu.
Is Zenless a gacha game?
HoYoverse hasn’t explained just yet how it’s planning to monetize Zenless. Given that Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd are both free-to-play with gacha mechanics, we can likely expect the same of the studio’s next action game.
Zenless Zone Zero characters & Factions
Like Genshin, ZZZ looks like it’ll be all about its characters—backstories, voice actor reveals, and probably a big fandom full of folks adoring their faves. Yes, I have seen that everyone loves the fox man already. Of course you love the fox man with his muzzle and eyepatch and sad boy hair. Where’s the love for the bear, folks?
HoYoverse is slowly doling out info on the many characters and the factions they’re a part of. Here’s everybody we’ve seen so far, and the names we have (or don’t) to go with them.
Gentle House (Cunning Hares)
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
This group of freelance odd job-ers was founded by Nicole Demara and handles Hollow-related commissions, though apparently the group is constantly dealing with debt piling up.
Billy Kid – A handsome and carefree cyborg with custom dual revolvers.Nicole Demara – Cunning founder of the Hares with a hammer.Anby Demara – Calm and enigmatic young girl with a lightning sword.Nekomiya Mana – A “spirited and mischievous” catgirl who loves fish.
Defense Force
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
We don’t know anything about the Defense Force yet, only that Soldier 11 is a member.
Soldier 11 – An efficient soldier who has no name with a flaming sword.
Victoria Housekeeping
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
Victoria Housekeeping Co’s characters had a, well, let’s say ‘devoted’ fan base even before their characters were named in a full reveal. The high-end company offers attendant services—apparently by way of wolf-men and chainsaw-toting maids. For Victoria Housekeeping, it seems that “domestic service” can entail some more, well, violent forms of assistance.
Corin Wickes – Corin looks to be a maid in the “nervous and flustered” archetype, apparently distressed by Victoria Housekeeping exaggerating about her capabilities to customers. Unclear how the chainsaw-scythe factors in. Von Lycaon – Lycaon is described as “rational and wise, a true gentleman.” That’s all fine, but he’s also a wolfman with jet legs, which you might be surprised to learn has earned him plenty of interest.
[Unknown] Industries
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
The name for the group appears to be “Belobo” Industries or something similar, but none of its characters have had their names revealed yet.
Unnamed cloak guy – He’s wielding protagonist hair and what looks like a drill fist?Unnamed hammer kid – The small one, dual wielding a hammer and axe.Unnamed bear man – A bear with a chain, wields a battering ram.
H.SOS.6?
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
The faction of the demon girl and catgirl appears to be H.SOS.6, based on the combat trailer from June 2022, but we don’t know their names yet.
Unnamed blue demon – a blue demon girl with a mask and greathammer.Unnamed samurai catgirl – Cat ears and katana? Check.
Random Play Managers
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
These two siblings are the owners managers of the Random Play video store in New Eridu who bookended one of the first game trailers.
Belle: Perceptive and alert, a cheerful and easygoing girl. Wise: Thoughtful and reassuring, a gentle and reserved young man.Phaethon: A well-known Proxy for their unique guidance technology.
Although this hasn’t been confirmed yet, I’m feeling pretty confident that these are actually the player characters you’ll choose between in Zenless, not another faction. Genshin Impact, for instance, has you choose between a brother and sister character. If siblings Belle and Wise aren’t two player character options along with their mascot character a la Paimon, I will be very surprised.
One more wolf guy, just for all of you
HoYo fans only want one thing. (Image credit: HoYoverse)
