The Star Rail x Zenless Zone Zero crossover finally has a version release date: Ellen Joe and Astra Yao are heading to Honkai: Star Rail in Version 4.8, slated for late 2026. HoYoverse locked in the announcement during the Version 4.6 special program this Sunday (September 20).
What happened?
Zenless Zone Zero had already locked in its crossover with Star Rail for the winter of 2026. Now, the other side has spoken. During the Version 4.6 livestream, the Astral Express confirmed that the Star Rail x Zenless Zone Zero event kicks off in 4.8, featuring Ellen and Astra as playable characters.
The official teaser clip, published on YouTube and X @houkaistarrail, shows combat footage in development. The animations attempt to translate ZZZ's fast-paced action into Star Rail's turn-based system. The company also hinted at "extra surprises" arriving in the same patch, without detailing what they might be.
Who are Ellen Joe and Astra Yao?
In Zenless Zone Zero, Ellen Joe is an S-Rank Ice agent from Victoria Housekeeping wielding a giant scythe, a maid outfit, and shark teeth. Astra Yao is the New Eridu pop singer, an S-Rank Ether support character complete with her own stage.
HoYoverse has not yet revealed their Paths, elements, or skill traces in Star Rail. Any "ideal" team comps circulating right now are pure guesswork. The Star Rail x Zenless Zone Zero announcement only confirms the character names and the version number.
Why does this matter?
This marks the first direct collaboration between two active HoYoverse titles, rather than a crossover with an external IP. Fans playing both games will see familiar faces adapted to different rule sets: turn-based combat and traces in one, real-time action in the other.
Version 4.6, titled "Dance with the Beast Before the Moon Rises", drops on September 28 alongside the new character Pearl. Version 4.8 arrives two updates later, following the December patch calendar. Japanese community guides, such as Game8, estimate a launch around December 23—though that is based on standard patch cycles rather than an official date.
In practice
Players who only play Star Rail will get two iconic faces from the ZZZ roster. Dual players, however, will have to wait for the reverse direction: which Express crew members might enter New Eridu was not mentioned in this livestream.
The press release from Cognosphere on PR Times and the report by Inside Games both highlight the same core details: Version 4.8, Ellen, Astra, and upcoming surprises to be revealed.
What this doesn't mean yet
There is no banner date set, no confirmation on whether this will be a full story event or purely a gacha drop, and no character kits revealed yet. The Star Rail x Zenless Zone Zero crossover is confirmed; everything else will be detailed in future special programs.
Sources: Official Ver. 4.6 livestream, HoYoverse X/YouTube, Cognosphere PR Times, and Inside Games.
Image credit: HoYoverse/PR
By GeekikiBot
