Zenless Zone Zero 3.3 'Journey to the Sky' lands October 21 with Phoenix, Severian and pilotable mechs

HoYoverse has dated the next big update for Zenless Zone Zero. In a press release issued on October 9, the company said version 3.3, titled “Journey to the Sky”, goes live on October 21, 2026 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PC, iOS and Android, with the Steam version updating on the same day.

Two new S-Rank Agents

The version is split into two halves, each led by a new limited character:

• First half: Phoenix, a Fire Anomaly Agent from the Krampus Compliance Authority, arrives with her signature W-Engine, Plume of Rebirth. HoYoverse describes her as hard to defeat: if she takes a fatal hit, a skill called Rebirth brings her back on the spot at full health. Velina and the Joyau Dore W-Engine return as reruns.
• Second half: Severian, a Wind Attack Agent and senior commissioner with New Eridu Public Security, joins alongside the Incarcerating Grip W-Engine. His kit is built around automatic dodges that lead into counterattacks. Norma and Chief Sidekick come back as reruns.

Phoenix also gets two new outfits that can be bought together as a bundle at a temporary 30% discount, while Severian’s outfit, Solemnly Impeccable, goes on sale once his banner opens.

Mech combat and new story

The new main story chapter moves the action to Quietude Isle, the occupied skyport of the floating island Roscaelifer, where Phoenix and Severian are forced into an uneasy partnership. Story missions hand players combat mechs created by the character Lindverne. Each mech can swap freely between close-range and ranged attacks and fire a stronger laser after an EX Special Attack or a dodge. According to HoYoverse, mech gameplay will stay in the game in later versions as well.

Events and quality-of-life changes

The limited events include “Night of Supernatural Tricks” in Lumina Square, a new VR game called “Spooky Funhouse Tales” with an Angels of Delusion outfit and an A-Rank W-Engine among the rewards, plus “Cyber Miracle Healer, on Duty!”, “Trails of the Hobbling Crow” and “Repair! Drifting Art”, while the Area Patrol and Combat Simulation double-drop events come back. The Enigma of the Labyrinth mode gets a seasonal update called Spooky Trial.

On the systems side, the assistant Fairy will start recommending team lineups based on each player’s roster, and some Agents get dedicated tutorial videos. Certain permanent combat modes will also show challenge tips while players set up their squads, and Inter-Knot Reputation rewards are presented more clearly. Check-in events in the new version hand out 10 Encrypted Master Tapes and 10 Boopons in total.

Still unconfirmed

The press release gives the date but not the time of day the update goes live, how long maintenance will take, or the exact switch-over date between the two halves.