HoYo’s urban action shared the latest ZZZ dev talk video dedicated to the upcoming versions. Based on all the great things shared? The game is in for a huge revamp and many great things. So, in short, what is in ZZZ V2.0? New locations, new gameplay, revamp of some older systems like the map, new characters & factions, and much more! Let’s dive right in to find out.
When it comes to the story, we’ll follow the Proxies to a unique area within New Eridu: the Waifei Peninsula, the main stage for the upcoming story. It is located near the Lemnian Hollow, which the protagonists will be able to enter on their own under the mentorship of new character, Yixuan. She is the leader of the Yunkui Summit, the new faction that we’ll encounter in 2.0, a key character of the upcoming story, and a mentor to the Phaethon siblings.
In addition to the Yunkui Summit, players will also work with OBOL Squad and finally meet the long-teased Angels of Delusion idol faction. Tune in on April 13 for a special PV that will share more info!
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- Yunkui Summit
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- OBOL Squad
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- Angels of Delusion
However, ZZZ Season 2 is not just about new characters and areas. The developers have collected feedback from the Proxies very seriously and used it to change the design philosophy going forward, with the most notable change coming to the map design.
The entire map experience will be revamped, with the travel now involving the map of new Eridu instead of the old slider. Players will also be able to enjoy a mini-map and fewer loading screens.
In a more narrative-driven direction, agents’ Special Episodes and Phaethon’s story will be merged together, putting more focus on developing the connection between the various Agents and the main storyline.
The developers have been exploring the idea of bringing Zenless Zone Zero to users on more platforms, with the game preparing to launch on Xbox! More info will be shared during the upcoming livestream.
During the ZZZ dev talk, the team admitted that the current combat design significantly diminishes the presence of characters other than the main DPS. What should feel like a three-person tactical squad instead feels more like a solo operation.
So in Season 2, the devs plan to enhance the functionality and performance of non-DPS characters. For example, when agents are switched-out, they can still remain on-field and contribute to combat, providing a visual indication of their performance.
Another possibility is adding new attack and defense mechanics for enemies, specific moves with specific counter-strategies that involve teamwork from different characters in your squad, enhancing the overall synergy.
The developers plan to optimize events in three aspects:
- Improvement on the existing game modes such as Grand Marcel Adventure, Bangboo vs Ethereal and so on while introducing new exciting gameplay;
- Introduction of some slow-paced, relaxing events to enrich Proxies’ everyday lives outside the main story;
- Lighter story events to take a breather between all the action;
Additionally, the team addressed some plans regarding characters released earlier in the game. The developers put in a lot of effort to ensure characters are relatively future-proof and have a long-term value. It’s about more than just beefing up characters’ stats. While maintaining each character’s charm, the developers will strategically enhance their unique traits rather than simply boost their damage output.
For example, the devs will supplement or even rework certain skills and their effects, tailoring them to each character’s experience. Besides that, each character’s role is considered very seriously. While strengthening the characters, their compatibility with future characters will be taken into consideration as well.
Older characters will not stop taking part in the new story, and will continue surprising and delighting Proxies with their unique charms.
