I still vividly remember that day in early 2024. I was watching a PlayStation State of Play livestream, half paying attention, when suddenly the screen exploded with neon colors and a pulse-pounding beat. It was the first proper look at HoYoverse’s Zenless Zone Zero running on PlayStation 5. I honestly couldn’t believe how slick it looked. Fast forward to 2026, and that trailer feels almost nostalgic now—because ZZZ has become a mainstay on my PS5 home screen, and it’s only gotten better with each update.
Let’s rewind a bit for anyone who hasn’t dived into this chaotic world yet. The premise is pure HoYoverse: a post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting where reality itself got torn apart by supernatural disasters called Hollows. These aren’t your typical monster zones; they’re shifting, unstable pocket dimensions filled with corrupted enemies that defy logic. Civilization crumbled, but the city of New Eridu survived by learning to harvest resources and technology from the Hollows themselves. It’s now the last beacon of modernity, a vertical urban jungle that feels like Tokyo’s Akihabara fused with a retro-futuristic dream.
You play as a Proxy—a guide-for-hire who leads others safely through Hollow expeditions. Honestly, the role fits the way I interact with the game perfectly. I’m not just some overpowered hero; I’m a tactician assembling squads from wildly different factions. The two groups that grabbed me right away were the Cunning Hares and Belobog Heavy Industries. The Cunning Hares are a scrappy gang of misfits with street-smart flair, while Belobog brings industrial-grade heavy weaponry and a no-nonsense attitude. Watching their interactions in cutscenes is half the fun.
Combat is where Zenless Zone Zero truly sings on the PS5. The action is fluid, cinematic, and ridiculously responsive. Squeezing off perfect dodges with the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback adds a layer of immersion that I didn’t know I needed. You feel the crunch of every impact, the rumble of an approaching Ethereal—a nasty Hollow creature—before it even appears on screen. The hardware capabilities HoYoverse promised to leverage back in 2024 aren’t just marketing fluff. The SSD eliminates loading screens almost entirely when you hop between the city and Hollow expeditions, keeping the momentum alive. Plus, ray-traced reflections on rain-slicked streets of New Eridu make nighttime exploration a visual treat.
Over the past two years, the game has evolved into something far bigger than that first State of Play demo. By 2026, we’ve had several major version updates introducing new districts in New Eridu, additional Hollow types, and a roster of characters that now spans over 30 playable agents. Each agent brings a unique weapon and combat style—dual pistols, electrified gauntlets, giant mechanical arms—you name it. The team-building meta has gotten seriously deep without ever feeling punishing. I can still clear most content with my well-invested Cunning Hares team, even though the shiny new limited banners tempt me every patch.
What keeps me logging in every day isn’t just the combat, though. It’s the vibe. New Eridu feels alive in a way few hubs do. The streets teem with NPCs playing mini-games, arcades to challenge friends, and noodle shops where your squad bonds over meals. The music? Absolute earworms. The soundtrack blends lo-fi, electronic, and J-rock seamlessly, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve opened the jukebox in the main hub just to let a certain track loop while I organize my inventory.
Performance-wise, the PS5 version holds a stable 60 fps at a crisp resolution. I’ve tested the Android version during commutes, and while it’s impressive in its own right, nothing beats the big-screen experience with a controller in hand. Cross-progression lets me switch between platforms effortlessly, which HoYoverse has nailed down perfectly.
So, is Zenless Zone Zero still worth jumping into in 2026? Absolutely. The story has expanded to unveil more secrets behind the Hollows and the true nature of New Eridu’s founding, and recent quality-of-life improvements have made the early game more accessible than ever. If you enjoy stylish action RPGs with a heavy emphasis on character personality and world-building, this one deserves a spot on your SSD. That 2024 trailer was just the beginning; what we have now is a living, breathing urban fantasy that keeps on raising the bar.
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