Zenless Zone Zero, released globally in 2024 by HoYoverse and actively expanded throughout 2025, presents a dynamic mix of action combat, urban exploration, and character-driven storytelling. The project blends fast-paced battles with a distinct art direction inspired by modern street culture, setting it apart from other titles in the genre. Its narrative revolves around survival in a fragmented world threatened by supernatural anomalies, where diverse factions compete for influence and resources.

The setting and narrative foundation of New Eridu

The events of Zenless Zone Zero take place in New Eridu, the last functional metropolitan area that managed to withstand the collapse caused by mysterious dimensional distortions known as Hollows. These anomalies continue to reshape the environment and create unstable zones inhabited by entities called Ethereals. The city has built an entire industry around Hollow expeditions, attracting both official agencies and independent groups seeking profit and influence.

Players assume the role of a Proxy, a crucial mediator whose responsibilities include guiding explorers through the dangers of the Hollows. The Proxy system forms the basis of the story, showing how different teams rely on support, coordination, and tactical information to navigate unstable territories. Each faction has its own internal dynamics and motivations, which enhances world-building and maintains narrative depth.

The storyline is updated regularly, with new chapters in 2025 expanding political tensions between organisations active around New Eridu. As the game evolves, more details emerge about the origins of the Hollows, the emergence of Ethereals, and the structures controlling Hollow-related technology. These additions introduce new conflicts while preserving the grounded tone of survival and adaptation.

Main factions and character groups

The cast of Zenless Zone Zero includes numerous factions, each bringing unique perspectives and gameplay specialisations. Cunning Hares operate as freelancers known for quick thinking and improvisation during expeditions, while Belobog Heavy Industries combines industrial power with straightforward combat solutions. Other groups, such as Victoria Housekeeping and Section 6, introduce further contradictions that reflect the city’s diverse nature.

Each character holds significant weight in the narrative through personal stories, social background, and distinct combat techniques. Their interactions reveal how ordinary citizens adapt to a society shaped by Hollow exploitation and constant risk. Relationships between characters expand through missions, cutscenes, and in-game events, resulting in a setting that feels active and reactive.

In 2025, new characters continue to be introduced through major version updates. Their roles in the plot often highlight unresolved conflicts, scientific research into Hollow activity, or underground struggles for power. This steady expansion reinforces the long-term development of the game’s universe.

Combat design and progression systems

The battle system in Zenless Zone Zero focuses on rhythmic action with an emphasis on timing, dodging, and coordinated attacks using a three-person squad. Players switch between characters to chain combos, break enemy defences, and trigger impactful team techniques. These mechanics provide depth without excessive complexity, making the game accessible while still rewarding mastery.

Enemy design includes a variety of Ethereals and artificial constructs that change behaviour depending on their environment. Certain foes require specific approaches, encouraging experimentation with team compositions. The game regularly updates its enemy roster, adding new threats that modify combat pacing and strategic planning.

Progression relies on enhancing equipment, unlocking special moves, and acquiring resources from expeditions. The upgrade system is structured to allow gradual improvement without forcing sudden difficulty spikes. In 2025, additional progression paths and balance adjustments were introduced to support different playstyles and ensure long-term character development remains stable.

Hollow structures and combat challenges

The Hollows serve as the core environment for combat and exploration. They are presented as unstable zones with procedural elements that create unpredictable combat situations. Within these spaces, players face both standard encounters and exclusive challenge nodes that offer valuable rewards in exchange for higher risk.

Specialised challenges feature modifiers that affect enemy behaviour, resource distribution, or squad limitations. These conditions promote tactical thinking and varied team setups. Updated Hollow formats introduced in recent patches diversify movement patterns and environmental hazards, adding more variety to regular gameplay loops.

Event-based missions also take place in the Hollows, often tied to new characters or temporary storylines. Such missions shift the focus from combat efficiency to narrative-driven objectives, providing context for ongoing conflicts and technological discoveries.

Exploration, daily activities, and city interactions

New Eridu functions as a compact yet active hub where players manage expeditions, interact with factions, and participate in side activities. Storefronts, offices, and recreational spaces provide opportunities to gather resources, enhance relationships, or access optional missions. This structure encourages gradual familiarisation with the city and its residents.

Daily tasks include managing expeditions, completing contracts, and assisting NPCs with practical issues tied to Hollow operations or urban life. These interactions highlight how citizens adapt to a post-collapse environment and deal with constant technological, economic, and safety challenges.

Regular updates in 2025 expanded the city’s activity list, adding new minigames, cosmetic features, and limited-time tasks. These additions enhance the sense of continuity and maintain engagement between major story chapters.

Long-term development and future updates

HoYoverse maintains a consistent update cycle for Zenless Zone Zero, introducing new regions within the Hollows, additional characters, storyline expansions, and seasonal events. The approach mirrors the studio’s established development strategy, ensuring sustained content flow and world-building progression.

The development team announced continued improvements to performance, accessibility options, and optimisation for all supported devices in 2025. These updates help stabilise gameplay and expand the audience by accommodating diverse hardware capabilities.

Future updates are expected to deepen the narrative by examining the roots of Hollow activity and its influence on different parts of the world beyond New Eridu. With each expansion, the game strengthens its identity as a character-focused action title with a strong thematic core.