INSIDE THE GAME

Enter Zenless Zone Zero

Game producer Zhenyu Li talks Proxies, Bangboo and a retro future.

Zenless Zone Zero

Urban Fantasy ARPG

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Take a stroll along the bustling streets of New Eridu, and you’ll find that this post-apocalyptic world is full of curiosities. Want to know more? We spoke to Zhenyu Li, Zenless Zone Zero’s producer, to give you the grand tour.

Hollows and Proxies

New Eridu is ridden with Hollows, a baffling occurrence that brings both danger and precious resources to the settlement.

Get to know New Eridu through comics and dialogue.

“Proxies are expert Hollows explorers, specialising in guiding people out of these supernatural disasters,” Li explains. And in Zenless Zone Zero, you play as a famous Proxy, code-named Phaethon.

Don’t underestimate the Bangboo

Another fixture in New Eridu is the Bangboo. These little fellas are adorable, sure, but they’re super helpful too. Some of these smart devices can lend you a hand in everyday life. Others can become Proxy assistants, venturing deep into the Hollows.

In a fight, Bangboo can not only launch attacks of their own. They can also help trigger Chain Attacks – arguably the most exhilarating part of Zenless Zone Zero’s combat system – when working with other characters.

“Meticulous detail and flawless execution are at the heart of what we do. We prefer to fine-tune and polish every action and special effect frame by frame,” says Li.

Careful thought goes into every second of battle.

A retro future

Little street-side shops, graffiti on the walls and flickering neon signs come together to make New Eridu a nostalgic yet trendy city, a style influenced by the life experiences and artistic tastes of the production team.

“I remember my childhood fondly – the time spent with my friends playing games in the arcade, discussing films at the video rental shop or sharing music at the record store,” says Li.

“Through New Eridu, I want to share with everyone these things that brought me joy and helped me grow.”

Walk through the winding streets of New Eridu.

Although Zenless Zone Zero has been in the making for years, the story of New Eridu has just begun. Take your place as a Proxy and get ready to fall in love with this thriving city.