Following an impressive new combat trailer at Summer Game Fest last month, Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse has announced that its new game, Zenless Zone Zero, will begin its closed beta on August 5 on PC and iOS devices.
Dubbed the ‘Tuning Test,’ HoYoverse has not announced an end date for the closed beta. Interested players can sign up now on the game’s official website until July 27, 2022. As this is Zenless Zone Zero‘s first public playtest, HoYoverse has made it clear that content is still a work in progress and may change prior to the game’s official launch.
The game was first revealed in May, days after a strange counter was posted on the mysterious project’s official website. Along with the first official trailer, HoYoverse provided a lengthy description of the new IP.
Zenless Zone Zero is a brand-new game IP set in a post-apocalyptic metropolitan city. It features an engaging story with a futuristic art style, distinctive characters, and an exhilarating action-orientated combat system. Players will play the role of a “Proxy” and embark on an adventure with a diverse group of partners to conquer the unknown enemies and unravel the mysteries in New Eridu—the last shelter for urban civilization.
Contemporary civilization has been destroyed by a supernatural disaster known as the “Hollows.” They grow exponentially out of thin air, creating disordered dimensions where mysterious monsters dubbed the “Ethereal” roam. New Eridu, the last urban civilization that survived the apocalypse, managed to thrive by acquiring the technology to extract valuable resources out of the Hollows.
As New Eridu became the city of miracle and attracted more resettled residents, it also started the massive exploration of the Hollows for its perpetual expansion. The Hollows then became industrialized and monetized under the city’s administration, which gradually led to the increasing tension between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics.
Players in the game take on the role of a “Proxy”—a special professional who guides people in their exploration of Hollows. A great many people want to enter the Hollows for their own various reasons, and the “Proxies” are their indispensable partners. Players will help them explore the Hollows, battle their enemies, achieve their goals, and in the process learn more about their story.
Besides the engaging story, this 3D anime-style title features a fluid, cinematic action-oriented combat system. While fighting Ethereal, players can take control of different characters to unleash electrifying skills and unlimited QTE combos. The game has also developed a roguelike gameplay mechanism that awaits exploration.
In May, it was announced that HoYoverse’s global hit title Genshin Impact had surpassed over $3 billion in lifetime player spending across Google Play and the App Store since its initial launch in September 2020. The gacha game has averaged revenue of $1 billion every six months, with most paying users found in China, followed by Japan and the United States.
Zenless Zone Zero does not currently have a release date. While the game will only be welcoming beta testers on PC and iOS devices, HoYoverse has stated that it would expand beyond these platforms in the future.
