Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero is a free-to-play action role-playing game developed and published by miHoYo (with publishing outside mainland China under Cognosphere, d/b/a HoYoverse). The game was released on Windows, iOS, Android and PlayStation 5 on July 4, 2024.

Gameplay


Zenless Zone Zero is an action role-playing game. The player assumes the role of a Proxy (the protagonist known as Wise or Belle), a character who helps others explore the hostile alternate dimensions called Hollows. As they advance, the Proxy will recruit new members to their party as they continue to fight the Ethereal and other enemies. In addition to the Proxy, players also use assistants known as Bangboos.

By combining the abilities of different Proxies and Bangboos, players can deal greater damage and combos (known as Chain Attack) onto enemies. The game features an in-game clock system, with the days split into morning, afternoon, night, and late-night.

Setting
The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic futuristic haven known as New Eridu. Entities known as Ethereals have traveled into the human world from portals called Hollows. The Ethereals have wreaked havoc on most of humanity, wiping most of them out. However, a select group of survivors formed a bastion against the invaders called New Eridu, having survived the oncoming onslaught by extracting the Ethereals' technology and resources.

Despite falling into the 'futuristic' category, Zenless Zone Zero takes on a retro and analog aesthetic, which is explained by the notion that modern technology is susceptible to corruption from the game's main enemies, the Ethereals. Characters can be seen operating flip-phones or phones reminiscent of models from the years between 2000 and 2010. The main 'base' location is a video store where citizens of New Eridu can rent films in the form of VHS. Box TVs are also commonly seen throughout the game. There are also references to 1990s media as well as grunge or street-style designs present throughout New Eridu.

Development and release
HoYoverse revealed the game in May 2022 and began holding closed beta tests, known as "Tuning Tests", for PC and iOS in August of the same year. A second closed beta test, called an "Equalizing Test", was also held for PC and iOS in November 2023. A third beta test, called an "Amplifying Test", was held for Android, PC, and iOS, in April 2024. During PlayStation's State of Play presentation in January 2024, a PlayStation 5 port of the game was announced as a timed console exclusive. A technical test was held for the PS5 in April 2024. The release date was announced in late May 2024.

The game was released on July 4. To promote the game, HoYoverse collaborated with several graffiti artists to create Zenless Zone Zero-themed graffiti in 19 cities in Indonesia. A series of launch events titled "New Eridu City Tour" is being held in 19 locations worldwide. Another series of event titled "Zenless Dazzle Expo" is held within six comic conventions.

Reception
Prior to the game's release, the Chinese video game news website 17173 noted that HoYoverse had significant experience with action games, considering Zenless Zone Zero both a return to the genre and a potential breakthrough for the company. They believed that HoYoverse had yet to encounter significant rivals in the action game category and that Zenless Zone Zero could "stabilize and expand the user market." 17173 also emphasized the game's strong stylized design and trendy visual elements, noting that it inherited HoYoverse's expertise in the action category while presenting a distinct and unique work.

Eurogamer called the combat and day-to-day exploration exciting, and the world setting unique and immersive. Kotaku said its combat system is similar to HoYoverse's previous RPG, Honkai Impact 3rd.