HoYoverse has announced that Zenless Zone Zero is heading to Steam – marking the studio’s first-ever debut on Valve’s platform – alongside Version 2.8, dubbed New Eridan Sunset, which drops on May 6. It’s a genuinely significant double announcement: platform expansion and a season finale update in the same breath.
Version 2.8 closes out Season 2 with two new S-Rank Agents joining the roster. Promeia is an Ice Anomaly Agent – the self-described executioner of Krampus – who can enter a Bound Absolution state via her EX Special Attack, letting her automatically Perfect Dodge incoming hits and amplify Abloom damage across the squad when paired with another Anomaly or Support Agent. Starlight – Billy is the second addition, an upgraded Physical Rupture form of Billy who rides in on a combat motorcycle; all his physical damage lands as Sheer damage, and his health-restoration skills lean into a surprisingly tanky playstyle for a Rupture dealer.
The headline new mechanic is the Vortex system, tied to a brand-new Wind attribute enemy. When Wind Attribute Anomaly is applied to an enemy and a second Anomaly type hits, it triggers Vortex rather than Disorder – dealing AoE Anomaly damage matching the second element. It’s a meaningful shake-up to the elemental reaction loop that ZZZ players have been working with since launch. Re-runs for Lucia and Orphie & Magus fill out the first and second halves of the patch respectively, a new Hoshimi Miyabi outfit called Dignified Blossom lands in the store, and the Marcel Bootopia event lets you play as Eous across a Bangboo resort island – complete with earnable A-Rank Bangboo Booltergeist, who floats around firing lasers in combat.
The Steam announcement is arguably the bigger headline in the long run. HoYoverse’s PC titles have historically lived on the Epic Games Store or the developer’s own client – Genshin Impact only arrived on Steam in 2023 – so bringing Zenless Zone Zero to Valve’s platform is a logical next step, but a notable one. A Steam product page is already live for wishlisting, with cross-platform account syncing confirmed, meaning existing players won’t lose progress when swapping over. A full release date for the Steam version hasn’t been confirmed yet, though Steam Advance Testing is planned ahead of launch. For a live-service title, Steam visibility cuts both ways, but ZZZ‘s momentum heading into its season finale feels considerably healthier than some of its peers.
Community reaction has been warm, with particular buzz around the Vortex mechanic’s potential to open up new elemental team compositions – and predictable excitement around Starlight – Billy’s motorcycle entrance. The Steam move has pulled in players who’d held off on the Epic client, which mirrors the broader push to meet PC players where they already are. With Version 2.8 wrapping Season 2, all eyes will be on whatever HoYoverse teases for Season 3 and Version 3.0 – and whether the Steam launch timing aligns with that next chapter.
Are you pulling for Promeia, Starlight – Billy, or sitting this banner out entirely? Let us know in the comments below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news and Zenless Zone Zero coverage.
