HoYoverse is sending Proxies back into the Hollow. On October 15 the studio will release Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.3, a story- and event-driven update titled “Memories of Dreams Bygone” that opens a ghost-story-flavored area called Timesworn Hills, introduces three new Agents, and layers new game modes and events on top of the live-service roadmap. The studio published a trailer alongside the announcement; you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/dSsx7hMlReY.
Where Version 2.3 leans into atmosphere, it does so with concrete hooks: Timesworn Hills is described as a Lumite-rich region threaded with abandoned research facilities and testing ruins whose histories have given rise to chilling local legends — vanished miners, a phantom bell, and hypnotists said to trap people in endless dreams. That mystery is the update’s narrative engine: early quests and event content center on investigating disappearances among miners and Porcelumex employees, and the ruins provide natural locations for exploration-driven encounters and recurring seasonal mysteries.
New Agents and Modes
Mechanically, the patch brings three Agents with distinct roles. Lucia arrives as an S‑Rank Ether Support whose kit revolves around Dream Points and a Dream state that can reshape fights — her Ether Veil: Wellspring both increases allies’ max HP and amplifies team damage by boosting Sheer Force while triggering Aftershocks. Yidhari, another S‑Rank pick, is an Ice Rupture Agent whose attacks deal Sheer Damage and grow stronger as her HP drops, encouraging high-risk, high-reward play patterns. Finally, Komano Manato joins as an A‑Rank Fire Rupture Agent whose strikes scale with max HP, making him a solid option for HP‑focused team builds and an accessible introduction to Rupture playstyles.
Beyond Agents, Version 2.3 expands both challenge and variety. Soldier 0 — Anby receives targeted combat refinements intended to unlock more of her latent potential, while a new mode called Threshold Simulation tests roster depth by asking players to field multiple squads across connected encounters. The update also launches an event named “When Dreams Remain Unfinished,” which uses turn-based combat and tactical positioning to mix up the pace — that event also includes Agent Manato as a free reward for completion. For players who prefer creativity and sharing, the photography event SNAP! Shining Strike returns with upgraded camera controls, filters, and frames to help capture and promote player-made moments.
Rewards and compensation for Version 2.3 are straightforward: HoYoverse is granting an additional 600 Polychromes alongside the usual login bonuses (10 Encrypted Master Tapes and 10 Boopons), and the update will be available across PlayStation®5 Pro, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S (and Xbox Cloud Gaming), PC, iOS, and Android. The game carries a Teen rating from the ESRB and PEGI 12 classification in Europe. For official details and ongoing updates, see https://zenless.hoyoverse.com/ and follow @ZZZ_EN on X.
What this means for players and the meta is worth watching. Two new S‑Rank Agents—Lucia and Yidhari—bring complex mechanics that could shift popular team compositions, especially if Lucia’s Dream Points are fast to generate or if Yidhari’s HP-scaling is tuned aggressively. Anby’s refinements may also change banner value and roster priorities, so players planning pulls should follow patch notes closely in the first days after launch. Threshold Simulation’s multi-squad requirements favor teams with breadth and role clarity over single-squad power, nudging players to keep multiple viable squads rather than concentrating all resources on a single carry.
From a design and retention perspective, Timesworn Hills reads like a space built to sustain episodic content: environmental storytelling (the mining ruins and research sites), a mystery to unfold across seasonal updates, and events that reward both exploration and tactical play. The turn-based event and the Threshold Simulation mode diversify gameplay offerings, which helps retain players who crave mechanical variety during a live-service cadence. Meanwhile, the upgraded SNAP! event doubles as a low-cost tool for community engagement—better camera tools typically translate into more shareable content and easier creator-led promotion.
Preparing for Version 2.3
If you’re preparing for Version 2.3, a few practical tips: farm resources ahead of the update if you intend to chase Lucia or Yidhari, since their S‑Rank status will likely make banners competitive; maintain at least two or three balanced squads to handle Threshold Simulation; and keep an eye on early patch clarifications in case Anby’s changes or Lucia’s Dream mechanics receive follow-up tuning.
Version 2.3 is a broad, atmosphere-forward patch that blends narrative hooks with mechanical updates. Its haunted veneer gives the Hollow a distinctive tone for the season while the added modes and agents provide fresh reasons for both meta-minded players and creators to return. For the latest on build notes and in-game events, visit the official site and watch the trailer linked above.
