Honkai: Star Rail has finally provided concrete details about its major crossover with Zenless Zone Zero. In an official announcement published on September 20, 2026, HoYoverse confirmed that the collaboration will take place in Version 4.8, with Ellen and Astra Yao named as two visitors from New Eridu who will begin their adventure in Star Rail.
The reveal significantly expands on the crossover's previous Winter 2026 window. A new teaser shows Ellen and Astra Yao presented within Honkai: Star Rail's visual language, although HoYoverse is still withholding most implementation details, including their kits, rarities, Paths, Combat Types, banner structure, Light Cones and the full format of the collaboration content.
Quick Summary
- Collaboration: Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero
- Developer of both games: HoYoverse
- Global publisher: COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
- Latest announcement: September 20, 2026
- Game featured in the announcement: Honkai: Star Rail
- HSR collaboration version: Version 4.8
- Previously announced window: Winter 2026
- First named ZZZ character: Ellen
- Full name: Ellen Joe
- Second named ZZZ character: Astra Yao
- Official status: both will begin their adventure in Star Rail
- Announcement source: Honkai: Star Rail Official X
- Official teaser: available on YouTube
- Video format: prerecorded teaser / not a livestream
- Latest official hashtag: #HSRxZZZcollab
- Ellen's original game: Zenless Zone Zero
- Ellen's faction: Victoria Housekeeping Co.
- Astra Yao's original game: Zenless Zone Zero
- Astra's identity: major New Eridu singer / music star
- Astra's faction: Stars of Lyra
- Original crossover announcement: July 17, 2026
- Original announcing side: Zenless Zone Zero
- Original teaser: Pom-Pomboo appearing on Sixth Street
- Original window: Winter 2026
- Version 4.8 in July announcement: not announced at the time
- Ellen in July announcement: not announced at the time
- Astra Yao in July announcement: not announced at the time
- Current live HSR version: Version 4.5
- Version 4.5 title: To Roll the Stars in Astropolis
- Next announced version: Version 4.6
- Specific Version 4.8 release date: unannounced
- Ellen's HSR rarity: unannounced
- Astra Yao's HSR rarity: unannounced
- Ellen's HSR Path: unannounced
- Astra Yao's HSR Path: unannounced
- Ellen's HSR Combat Type: unannounced
- Astra Yao's HSR Combat Type: unannounced
- Ellen's HSR kit: unannounced
- Astra Yao's HSR kit: unannounced
- Collaboration Light Cones: unannounced
- Banner structure: unannounced
- Free character distribution: not confirmed in the verified global announcement
- Story/event format: not yet detailed
- Collaboration rewards: unannounced
- Event duration: unannounced
- HSR character entering ZZZ: not named in the latest announcement
- Official message: more surprises remain to be revealed
- Current status: Version 4.8, Ellen and Astra Yao are official; implementation details are still pending
Ellen and Astra Yao Head for the Astral Express
Version 4.8 Is Now Officially the Collaboration Update
The biggest part of the new announcement is not simply Ellen and Astra Yao's appearance, but the confirmation of Version 4.8.
When the crossover was first announced in July 2026, HoYoverse only said that Zenless Zone Zero × Honkai: Star Rail would begin in Winter 2026. No version number, specific date, character roster or gameplay format was provided.
The September 20 announcement narrows that information considerably. On the Honkai: Star Rail side, Version 4.8 is now explicitly identified as the update in which the collaboration will go live.
That means one part of earlier Version 4.8 discussion has moved from rumor to confirmed information: the collaboration is indeed tied to 4.8.
That confirmation does not automatically validate other leaks, however. HoYoverse still has not announced the update date, Warp lineup, rarities, Paths, Combat Types, Light Cones or character-distribution methods.
Ellen and Astra Yao Are the First Named ZZZ Visitors
The latest reveal also answers one of the largest questions surrounding the crossover: who from New Eridu will enter Honkai: Star Rail?
The answer is Ellen Joe and Astra Yao.
Ellen is an Agent associated with Victoria Housekeeping Co., one of Zenless Zone Zero's original factions. Her character balances work for the housekeeping organization with an ordinary student life in New Eridu, making her one of the most recognizable characters from ZZZ's launch-era roster.
Astra Yao represents a very different side of New Eridu. She is one of the city's major music stars and is associated with Stars of Lyra. Her presence in ZZZ has also been expanded through official music releases, including the Stars of Lyra+ album.
Both are now officially described as characters who will begin their adventure in Star Rail.
That wording confirms their involvement on the HSR side, but does not yet explain their full implementation. This article therefore does not assign them rarities, banner positions, free status or gameplay abilities ahead of a complete official character reveal.
From Pom-Pomboo on Sixth Street to the Astral Express
The crossover began taking shape well before Ellen and Astra appeared.
On July 17, 2026, the official Zenless Zone Zero account jokingly announced that a “bug” had caused Pom-Pomboo to appear on Sixth Street and that the problem could not currently be “fixed.”
The joke then transitioned into the official confirmation that the Zenless Zone Zero × Honkai: Star Rail crossover would begin in Winter 2026.
At that point, no crossover characters had been named. There was no Ellen, Astra Yao, HSR-side ZZZ roster, banner structure or detailed event format.
Two months later, the direction of travel has reversed: Pom-Pom was the first visitor to New Eridu, and now two New Eridu characters have officially been announced for the cosmic journey of Star Rail.
The new wording about boarding the Astral Express also makes the September teaser feel like a direct continuation of the cross-world travel concept established by the original announcement.
The Teaser Brings Ellen and Astra Into Star Rail's Visual Language
The latest video does more than display their names.
Ellen and Astra Yao are shown through presentation designed around Honkai: Star Rail, giving players their first official look at how the two ZZZ characters are being represented on the HSR side of the collaboration.
That shift is particularly interesting because the two games use fundamentally different combat systems.
Zenless Zone Zero is an urban-fantasy action RPG built around real-time Agent switching, dodging, assists and combo-driven combat. Honkai: Star Rail is turn-based, with Skills, Ultimates, Talents, Paths and Combat Types defining character roles.
How Ellen and Astra retain their identities inside that structure remains one of the major unanswered questions.
HoYoverse has not published their character kits, combat demonstrations, Traces, Eidolons, Techniques or Light Cones. Animations seen in the teaser therefore should not automatically be treated as final confirmation of specific gameplay mechanics without supporting official information.
The Roster Is No Longer a Leak, but the Kits Still Are
Before this reveal, Ellen and Astra Yao had already appeared in multiple crossover leaks.
The situation has now changed—but only in part.
Ellen and Astra Yao's involvement on the Honkai: Star Rail side is no longer a rumor, because the official HSR account has directly named both characters.
Other information previously circulated alongside those leaks has not automatically become official.
That includes claims about:
- rarity,
- Path,
- Combat Type,
- free distribution,
- limited banners,
- Light Cones,
- buff values,
- damage scaling,
- team synergy,
- Warp order,
- and highly specific release dates.
Until those details appear through official character introductions, the Version 4.8 Special Program, update notes or another direct HoYoverse source, they remain separate from what is currently confirmed.
The September reveal establishes three major points with certainty: Version 4.8, Ellen and Astra Yao.
“More Surprises” Leaves Much of the Crossover Unrevealed
HoYoverse closes the announcement by signaling that more surprises are still coming.
That leaves considerable room for future information because the full structure of the crossover has never been detailed.
It remains unknown whether Version 4.8 will include a dedicated Trailblaze Mission, a separate event story, crossover locations, minigames, cosmetics, avatars, login rewards, companion content or another structure entirely.
The identity of any Honkai: Star Rail character appearing on the Zenless Zone Zero side is also not named in the latest verified post.
The July reveal established the project as a crossover between both games, but the September announcement specifically focuses on Ellen and Astra entering Star Rail.
That leaves the ZZZ side with major reveals of its own still waiting to happen.
Why This Matters
1) Version 4.8 is no longer merely a crossover rumor
HoYoverse itself now identifies Version 4.8 as the HSR update carrying the Zenless Zone Zero collaboration.
2) Ellen and Astra Yao replace roster speculation with official confirmation
Both names had circulated in leaks, but their involvement in Star Rail now comes directly from an official account.
3) Two very different combat systems are meeting
Ellen and Astra originate from a real-time action RPG, while HSR uses turn-based combat. How HoYoverse preserves their identities is one of the largest design questions still unanswered.
4) This is clearly not the final reveal
HoYoverse itself says more surprises remain, while banners, kits, story structure, rewards and the ZZZ side of the crossover are still largely undisclosed.
Game and Collaboration Information
For now, the additional important information currently known includes:
- the collaboration involves Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero
- both games are developed by HoYoverse
- their global store listings are published under COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
- the crossover was first officially announced on July 17, 2026
- the original announcement came from the Zenless Zone Zero side
- the first teaser used Pom-Pomboo appearing on Sixth Street
- the initial announced window was Winter 2026
- the July announcement did not provide an HSR version number
- it also did not provide a crossover character roster
- the latest announcement was published on September 20, 2026
- Honkai: Star Rail now officially confirms Version 4.8
- Ellen and Astra Yao are directly named
- both are described as beginning their adventure in Star Rail
- an official prerecorded teaser is available on YouTube
- Ellen's full name is Ellen Joe
- Ellen originates from Zenless Zone Zero
- she is associated with Victoria Housekeeping Co.
- the official ZZZ website still lists Ellen under Victoria Housekeeping Co.
- Astra Yao originates from Zenless Zone Zero
- Astra is a major music figure in New Eridu
- she is associated with Stars of Lyra
- Astra Yao has an official featured album titled Stars of Lyra+
- the album was previously released through official ZZZ music channels
- Version 4.8 is now confirmed rather than merely leaked
- no specific Version 4.8 launch date has been announced in the latest material
- the Version 4.8 maintenance schedule remains unannounced
- the crossover duration remains unannounced
- Ellen's HSR rarity remains unannounced
- Astra Yao's HSR rarity remains unannounced
- Ellen's Path remains unannounced
- Astra's Path remains unannounced
- Ellen's Combat Type remains unannounced
- Astra's Combat Type remains unannounced
- Ellen's Basic ATK, Skill, Ultimate, Talent and Technique have not been detailed
- Astra's Basic ATK, Skill, Ultimate, Talent and Technique have not been detailed
- their Eidolons remain unannounced
- signature Light Cones remain unannounced
- Character Event Warp structure remains unannounced
- limited or permanent availability remains unannounced
- free distribution for either character has not been confirmed in the latest verified global announcement
- collaboration login rewards remain unannounced
- event rewards remain unannounced
- Trailblaze Level or other prerequisites remain unannounced
- the collaboration story quest name remains unannounced
- no new crossover area has been confirmed
- the event gameplay format has not been detailed
- rerun or post-Version 4.8 availability remains unannounced
- the latest post does not name which HSR characters will appear on the ZZZ side
- HoYoverse explicitly teases that more surprises are coming
- Honkai: Star Rail currently still lists Version 4.5 as its live version on Google Play
- Version 4.5 is titled To Roll the Stars in Astropolis
- Zenless Zone Zero is currently on Version 3.2
- Version 3.2 is titled Their Secret Histories
- official HSR information is available through the Honkai: Star Rail Official Website
- official updates are available through Honkai: Star Rail Official X
- the latest announcement is available through the Honkai: Star Rail Official X Post
- the new video is available through the Official Ellen and Astra Yao Collaboration Teaser
- the Android version is available through Honkai: Star Rail on Google Play
- ZZZ information is available through the Zenless Zone Zero Official Website
- the original crossover announcement is available through the Zenless Zone Zero Official X Post
- the Android version is available through Zenless Zone Zero on Google Play
Closing
Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero has now moved beyond its broad Winter 2026 teaser into a much more concrete reveal. Version 4.8 is officially the HSR collaboration update, while Ellen and Astra Yao are the first two New Eridu characters confirmed to begin their adventure in Star Rail.
Most gameplay details remain intentionally undisclosed. The Version 4.8 release date, rarities, Paths, Combat Types, kits, Light Cones, banners, rewards, story format and the Zenless Zone Zero side of the crossover are all still waiting for future official announcements.
- Honkai: Star Rail Official X — Official Version 4.8 Zenless Zone Zero Collaboration Announcement Naming Ellen and Astra Yao
- Honkai: Star Rail / YouTube — Official Ellen and Astra Yao Collaboration Teaser
- Zenless Zone Zero Official X — Original Winter 2026 Honkai: Star Rail Crossover Confirmation
- Zenless Zone Zero — Official Character Roster and Game Information
- Zenless Zone Zero / HoYoLAB — Official Ellen Agent Mechanics Introduction
- Zenless Zone Zero / HoYoLAB — Official Astra Yao Featured Album Stars of Lyra+ Announcement
- Google Play — Official Honkai: Star Rail Store Page and Current Version Information
- Google Play — Official Zenless Zone Zero Store Page and Current Version Information
