Zenless Zone Zero Marks First Anniversary with Major Version 2.0 Update and Xbox Series Console Launch

It’s wild in New Eridu today. Zenless Zone Zero’s throwing down for its first birthday bash with some big guns: Version 2.0 lands, Xbox finally gets its shot, and there’s a log-in event with sweet freebies — a free S-Rank Agent and W-Engine. Plus, 1,600 Polychrome — that’s like, what, 10 pulls on any banner? And some exclusive profile goodies to flaunt at your friends.

Honestly, it’s not even the real anniversary yet. The game’s official birthday isn’t until near July 4, 2024. But HoYo’s got this thing, they push out birthday events whenever it fits, like six weeks ahead usually. So you’ve got 40 days to snag all this stuff.

Anyway, Zenless Zone Zero’s this urban sci-fi RPG. You’ve got Belle and Wise — siblings running a retro video store that’s secretly a cover for their gig as escorts guiding “Agents” through these crazy exclusion zones called “Hollows.” Sounds intense, right? You only get to play as them in the hub; in combat, it’s all about controlling the Agents.

Version 2.0, though, that’s the real start of Season 2. We’re getting deeper mysteries and new folks to meet. Like Yixuan and Pan Yinhu, dropping today! One’s S-Rank, one’s A-Rank, both part of this fresh faction, Yunkui Summit. Yixuan’s bringing a new damage type too, Rupture Agent — first new class since things kicked off!

Oh yeah, Zenless finally hit Xbox today, as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming. So if you’re into that, get on it!

Here’s the catch: all this is happening while there’s this crazy ongoing labor tension. Voice actors for ZZZ and other HoYo games are striking for better protections against AI taking over. Lotta actors being swapped out; some say it’s ‘cuz of the strike. HoYo’s keeping it hush, calling it “scheduling.”

Kind of a mess, right? But hey, that’s the game world for you.