In ZZZ, Hoyoverse claims that "gacha doesn't make much of a difference."
In recent years, Hoyoverse has swept the mobile industry off its feet. While Honkai Star Rail has been well-received by fans since its release earlier this year, Genshin Impact remains one of the most cherished role-playing games available. We couldn't pass up the thrilling chance to talk with Hoyoverse about the forthcoming RPG roguelike Zenless Zone Zero since, believe me, a few members of the PT team are gaming enthusiasts.
Although a release date for Zenless Zone Zero is currently unknown, our experience with the game at Gamescom 2023 was positive, as shown by our Zenless Zen Zero preview. Although Hoyoverse hasn't previously attempted a roguelike genre, our quick experience with it indicates that the development team is more than capable of taking on the challenge. That being said, it should come as no surprise that Hoyoverse, the firm behind Honkai Impact 3rd, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Star Rail, would produce a fantastic game.
The PT team has had a lot of questions since Zenless Zone Zero was first revealed. Fortunately, Zhenyu Li, the producer of ZZZ, was happy to answer them. We talked about Hoyo entering the roguelike genre, how those rogue elements affect the conventional gacha system of Hoyoverse games, whether we can anticipate regular updates, possible crossovers, and much more.
The move into the roguelike genre is maybe what excites the SmartRead crew the most. However, Li provides a simple explanation for why Hoyo is expanding, saying, "I love playing games that have rogue elements myself, so that's why I chose to do this." Really, is there any other reason that matters? The producer's passion for a genre and commitment to it only serves to guarantee that fans get precisely what they are due. Though we can't help but wonder how the gacha components from Genshin Impact and HSR may play a role, it's simply a gift from one fan to another.
According to Li, "I don't think that the gacha element of it really makes that much of a difference." "What's really special about this one is the content first and foremost," he adds of Zenless Zone Zero. That, in my opinion, is what actually counts. Furthermore, we've included rogue aspects with this. Although Li sees gacha components in roguelike role-playing games in this manner, he continues, "perhaps there are other ways of looking at this."
To be honest, isn't it a unique aspect of games? It helps to generate diverse experiences when the producer and development team have different opinions from other producers. I personally like it when genres, mechanics, and gameplay are approached in different ways. Li clarified that there isn't a single, established formula.
Beyond the fact that ZZZ is a roguelike role-playing game, we can't help but note the game's look and how its very tech-heavy scenario may have some parallels to HSR and Honkai Impact 3rd. But Zenless Zone Zero is obviously a distinct entity. It is far from earlier Hoyoverse games and stands tall. Regarding this perspective, Li asks, "Tech-heavy? Perhaps, given the sci-fi themes, the answer is definitely yes. However, the game's urban identity was our main concern. The roguelike RPG's urban atmosphere undoubtedly helps in setting it apart from other titles. "Purely, we try to remove maybe some sci-fi elements," according to Li.
Li goes on, "not to say that they're all gone, but we're really focusing on the urban part of that identity, and that should set [ZZZ] apart from Honkai Impact 3rd and Star Rail," but not all of them have vanished. This seems like a wise decision for the roguelike because, even with the return of the popular sci-fi aspects, ZZZ sets itself apart with an urban atmosphere that will no doubt pique players' interests.
But considering the variations in its identity, we questioned if the proxies are intended to play a comparable function to that of Traveler and HSR's Trailblazer. Fans of Hoyo games are aware that the Traveler is the primary playable character in Genshin, and the Trailblazer is the same in HSR. Both games give players the option to choose a male or female character at the beginning of the game.
Li explains, "I think they're quite different in the way that Proxies also have jobs," even if there can be two proxies, just as there are two Trailblazers and Travelers. They complete specific duties, correct? They serve a specific purpose in the game. However, it is just the beginning of what sets the Proxies apart from the heroes that came before them. "They're very independent roles and independent characters," Li remarks.
However, we find that the Proxies' ability to let users establish their identities to be their most intriguing feature. According to Li, "in terms of the development we're at, it's also the players that really define those roles to a certain extent, as far as I'm aware." Essentially, the players are able to "project a great deal of their own character onto the roles." This feature, which lets you lose yourself entirely in the game, is highly cherished in role-playing games. You have the ability to personalize the hero and shape them into your ideal. In ZZZ, you might claim that, at least in part, "players create the Proxies themselves."
After talking about the parallels and contrasts between Zenless Zone Zero and the other Hoyoverse games, maybe we can figure out if the roguelike and its sister games might ever intersect. Sadly, you may not be in luck if you were expecting to see your favorite Genshin or HSR characters in ZZZ. At least for the time being. "As of today, I don't think we've found a really good entry point for that to happen," Li informs us. The ZZZ team would want a crossover to "come on naturally, which is why we haven't done it yet," rather than forcing the matter.
Li says that there is still hope since, although there is a chance, "there's not really a way we've found so far where it really would fit," it doesn't mean that we won't pursue it. And let's say the group decided to add a character that already exists in another game. Then, they would rather "give it a bit of a revamp," which would result in a new character "with new characteristics."
whether there are any hints to future games, you may want to find out whether there will be any more when gamers noticed that the Honkai Star Rail city and the ZZZ faction Belobog Heavy Industries had the same name. Well, no, that's not a link, nor is it a nod. Li claims that the connection between the two games is "entirely accidental." That's correct, it's just a wonderful coincidence, and considering what Li intends to do with ZZZ, it's reasonable to assume that any other such little facts are similarly coincidental.
"Bringing a lot of new content to the players is what I really wanted to do myself with this product." Therefore, I believe it's rather coincidental, because we essentially started from scratch. In relation to starting from scratch, we couldn't resist posing the question of whether ZZZ gamers may anticipate regular upgrades to maintain the flow of new information. Good news. It's also very essential to us that we can deliver updates, Li informs us, adding that "there will be subsequent updates."
Only PC and mobile gamers are now anticipating fresh material and updates once the game launches, since those are the devices on which the game will be available. What about owners of the Nintendo Switch, then? Will the roguelike RPG be available on their preferred platform? Li says it's definitely in the cards. "We're definitely considering how to release this game on other platforms, including Nintendo." The fact that it will "probably take us such a bit more time to actually make that happen" is the only roadblock.
We can't help but be excited for Zenless Zone Zero to arrive on PC and mobile, even if a Nintendo Switch release looks far off. We are very grateful to Li for his time, and we are quite excited to check out ZZZ and see what really sets it apart from Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail.
Speaking of which, our guides for the Genshin Impact events and Honkai Star Rail events are an excellent place to start if you want to stay up to date on what's happening in Hoyoverse's other games. If you would like a couple more freebies, we also have lists for Genshin Impact codes and Honkai Star Rail codes.