The urban aRPG landscape is about to get a major shake-up. HoYoverse has officially pulled back the curtain on Zenless Zone Zero's Version 1.6 update, titled "Among the Forgotten Ruins," slated for release on March 12th, 2026. This isn't just another content drop; it's a narrative bombshell that promises to delve deep into the backstory of fan-favorite characters while introducing a slew of new gameplay systems. The devs spilled the beans during a recent Special Program, and the community is already buzzing with hype. It's time to get the lowdown on what's coming to New Eridu.

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The story takes a dramatic turn in the Version 1.6 TV Schedule. When Soldier 11 mysteriously vanishes, a concerned Anby decides to suit up in her old Obsidian Division Silver Squad uniform once more. Teaming up with OBOL's elite sniper, Trigger, she embarks on a search and rescue mission. However, things quickly go from zero to a hundred as their investigation uncovers a web of conspiracy that ties directly into Anby's shrouded past and the hidden secrets of the Silver Company. This update is poised to explore the complex history between Soldier 11 and Anby in detail. Meanwhile, the main questline heats up in the aftermath of a major auction commissioned by the Mayor of New Eridu. Factions are at each other's throats, all vying for control of an artifact linked to the Sacrifice. In this high-stakes game, phantom thieves Hugo and Vivian are making moves that deliberately blur the lines with the Proxies, leaving everyone to wonder: friend or foe? The tension is real, folks.

Now, let's talk about the meat and potatoes of any gacha update: the banners. The developers have outlined a two-phase character release schedule that's got players scrambling to save their Polychromes.

Phase 1 Banners (Kicking off March 12th):

  • S-Rank Spotlight: Soldier 0 – Anby (Electric Attack) & Burnice (Fire Anomaly). Anby Demara, formerly known as Soldier 0, returns as the former leader of the Silver Squad. Wielding dual swords, she's an S-Rank Electric Attack Agent who deals rapid Electric damage, triggers Aftershock, and amps up her allies' CRIT DMG against the same target. She's the real deal.

  • A-Rank Lineup: Pulchra (Physical Stun) and Ben (Defense).

  • Featured W-Engines: Severed Innocence (S-rank, Attack), Flamemaker Shaker (S-rank Anomaly), Big Cylinder (A-rank Defense), Box Cutter (A-rank Stun).

Phase 2 Banners:

  • S-Rank Spotlight: Trigger (Electric Stun) & Zhu Yuan (Ether Attack). Trigger is the new S-Rank sniper on the block. Her Sniper Mode allows for swift evasions and precise strikes, and she can call in teammates for a Quick Assist. Her attacks build Purge, boosting Aftershock damage and increasing ally damage on the marked target. Talk about a team player!

  • A-Rank Lineup: Lucy (Fire Support) and Billy (Physical Attack).

  • Featured W-Engines: Spectral Gaze (S-rank Stun), Riot Suppressor Mark VI (S-rank Attack), Starlight Engine Replica (A-rank Attack), Kaboom the Cannon (A-rank Support).

A major highlight is that everyone will receive a free copy of the A-rank Agent Pulchra simply by participating in the "March On, Tiny Titan!" event. This is a game-changer for building out rosters, so players should plan their pulls accordingly to avoid duplicate pitfalls.

The content pipeline for Version 1.6 is absolutely stacked. Here's a breakdown of what's new:

🎬 Story & Character Development

  • Main Story Season 1 – Epilogue: "Bury Your Tears with the Past" - The curtain closes on the first major arc.

  • Three New Playable Agents: Silver Soldier Anby (S-rank), Pulchra (A-rank), and Trigger (S-rank).

  • Deep-Dive Character Stories:

    • Soldier 11's fourth Trust Event.

    • Trigger's Agent Story: "Out of Sight".

    • Soldier 0 – Anby's Agent Story: "Echoes of Silver".

    • New TV Schedules for both Anby and Trigger.

🎮 Hollow Zero & Endgame Expansion

The rogue-like dungeon gets its biggest expansion yet. No cap.

  • New Narrative Chapter: "Hollow Zero: Dancing on Strings" - The investigation into the mysterious Geppetto advances as The Lost Void stirs.

  • New Game Mode: Shadow Operation - A multi-stage mode with unique stage effects and challenges.

  • Higher Difficulty: Battlefront Purge Difficulty VI arrives with brand-new modifiers.

  • Exclusive Gear: Four new Hollow Zero Exclusive Gear sets for Evelyn, Astra Yao, Jane, and Corin.

  • Preview Event: "Hollow Zero: Shattered Edge" lets players test-drive the new agents with their exclusive gear.

  • Exploration Refresh: Many new areas, events, and a handy map refresh function.

🎉 Events & Rewards Galore

  • March On, Tiny Titan! - Fulfill a mighty Bangboo's wishes for rewards, including the free Pulchra.

  • Little Knight’s Big Charge - Help a Knightboo through ten trials to win his princess. How romantic!

  • Virtual World: Battle Storm - Daily themed battles with two difficulty levels.

  • Delivery Cat Woes - Assist Pulchra with her probationary work for the Sons of Calydon.

  • Check-in Events - Awarding a total of 10x Encrypted Master Tapes and 10x Boopons. That's a nice little bonus.

⚙️ Systems & Quality of Life

  • New Drive Disc Series: Shadow Harmony & Phaethon’s Melody for fresh build strategies.

  • New Expert Challenge: "Lumberjack."

  • Returning Double Drops: Advanced Bounty: Routine Cleanup & Data Bounty: Combat Simulation are back.

  • Expert Challenge Burnout Mode: Periodically activates for stages relevant to the current S-Rank banner, offering double energy cost for double the rewards. Efficiency is key!

  • Interface Updates: Revamped W-Engine and Drive Disc interfaces for better management.

  • Special Training Plan System Upgrades.

With new trailers on the horizon, Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 is shaping up to be a content behemoth. From unraveling the mysteries of Anby's past to mastering new Hollow Zero strategies with exclusive gear, there's something for every Proxy. The update drops on March 12th, 2026 – mark your calendars and get ready to dive back into the chaos of New Eridu. It's gonna be lit.

Data referenced from SteamDB can help contextualize how a major Zenless Zone Zero patch like Version 1.6 might ripple through player activity once it lands, since large story drops, new agents, and endgame expansions typically correlate with noticeable swings in concurrency and engagement. Tracking changes around release windows is especially useful for gauging whether additions like Hollow Zero’s new Shadow Operation mode and higher Battlefront Purge difficulty translate into sustained play beyond the initial banner hype.