Everything we know about Zenless Zone Zero

Here’s everything we know about MiHoYo’s latest gacha game

Image credit:miHoYo

Want to know more about Zenless Zone Zero, MiHoYo’s newest game? Featuring a bunch of colourful characters shooting their way through a sci-fi cityscape, Zenless Zone Zero is an extraordinarily slick new entry in MiHoYo’s lineup, following up the likes of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail .

Unlike Genshin’s Zelda-esque exploration and Honkai’s turn-based combat, however, Zenless Zone Zero is all about potent action, though there’s a surprising amount of roguelike mechanics present in this unusual genre mashup as well. For those curious about the weird mix of combo attacks and CRT TV navigation that defines this game, we’ve gathered all we know thus far about Zenless Zone Zero below, from the expected release date to the setting to gameplay details.

In this guide:

• Zenless Zone Zero expected release date
• Zenless Zone Zero platforms
• Zenless Zone Zero trailers
• Zenless Zone Zero story details and setting
• Zenless Zone Zero gameplay

Zenless Zone Zero expected release date

Zenless Zone Zero is confirmed for a 2024 release. The exact date is still unknown, but a summer or fall release seems likely.

A closed beta test - dubbed a “tuning test” - for Zenless Zone Zero kicked off in August 2022 and ended the same month. In November 2023, another beta - this time called an “equalizing test” - began, ending on December 24. There is no indication whether the game will host a third beta, but signing up on the Zenless Zone Zero website ensures that willing participants will be the first to know if the time comes.

Zenless Zone Zero platforms

Zenless Zone Zero has been announced for Windows, Playstation 5, iOS, and Android. Judging by MiHoYo’s previous behaviour, Zenless Zone Zero is unlikely to launch on Steam when it does release on PC, but will probably be available on the Epic Games Store, which is the case with Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

Zenless Zone Zero trailers

Zenless Zone Zero was first announced in a 2022 reveal trailer that showed off the game’s beginning characters as well as its explosive combat against Ethereal enemies.

The longest footage of the game thus far is a six minute gameplay showcase from gamescom 2023 showing off a variety of character combos and gameplay systems, including the various mini-games available for play around the hub world of New Eridu.

The other most notable Zenless Zone Zero trailer came out in January and advertised the game’s forthcoming Playstation 5 version.

There have also been a number of brief teasers showcasing characters from the game, like the dual pistol-shooting cyborg Billy Kid , as well as longer clips with extensive gameplay, including one featuring the pink-haired leader of the Cunning Hares faction, Nicole Demara .

Zenless Zone Zero story details and setting

Zenless Zone Zero takes place in the futuristic city of New Eridu, which stands as humanity’s last outpost against the Hollows, a series of supernatural dimensional gateways that have opened up and devoured most of the rest of the world. Each Hollow spawns glowing monsters known as the Ethereal that will destroy anything in their path.

New Eridu’s not bad for a city fighting against the Apocalypse! Enjoy some fresh tunes, wander the streets, eat noodles. The life. |Image credit:miHoYo

Despite this seemingly gloomy post-apocalyptic setting, Zenless Zone Zero’s world is one full of vibrancy, illustrated in bold comic book-style flair. The citizens of New Eridu managed to carry on via the joy of capitalism, and have made a new way of life extracting resources from the Hollows. A number of companies and factions have erupted peddling wares taken from the Hollows, and Hollow Raiders - gangs of privateers willing to dive into the hollows and acquire goods for the highest bidder - are extremely common. To navigate the Hollows, these raiders need what’s known as a Proxy; AKA a “person in the computer chair” who can map out their destination for them. You control the Proxy in Zenless Zone Zero, and all of the characters you unlock are Hollow Raiders.

Zenless Zone Zero gameplay

Zenless Zone Zero is perhaps MiHoYo’s most dizzying combination of gameplay mechanics yet, and it’s tricky to sum up all of the systems under the hood. Here’s what we know thus far:

Zenless Zone Zero’s perfect for activating the primal part of your brain that loves making characters do big attacks that cause lots of numbers to pop up on screen. |Image credit:miHoYo

Character action game : While Genshin Impact may have been defined by its Breath of the Wild-style open world and Honkai: Star Rail by its JRPG battles, Zenless Zone Zero is more akin to a character action game. Think Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, with extensive combos used against packs of Ethereal and big bosses. Each combat arena sees you tag teaming between three different characters and using their attacks to unlock bigger chain attacks. For those who delight in combo supremacy and watching lots of big damage numbers appear at once, Zenless Zone Zero certainly scratches the itch.

Expect to be jumping from television screen to television screen quite a bit. |Image credit:miHoYo

CRT TV roguelike missions : The map that links Zenless Zone Zero’s combat scenes together is perhaps the game’s most intriguing mechanic. As a way of showcasing the Proxy’s “person in the computer chair” method of mapping out the Hollows, players are presented with a randomised selection of CRT TVs. They can move between the televisions, some of which will spit out currencies, serve as dead ends, or immediately instigate combat with whatever combination of Hollow Raiders the Proxy is currently leading. This is where Zenless Zone Zero’s procedurally-generated roguelike vibes kick in, as no CRT map is quite the same. The effect is reminiscent of something like a board game, and early player response to these telly labyrinths has been mixed, with some fans decrying them for length and preferring combat over Mario Party-style navigation.

New Eridu hub world : In between action segments and TV board game navigation, you’re free to wander around a few blocks of New Eridu as your Proxy, enjoying all the joys that exist in a sunny cyberpunk metropolis that has managed to mask its hyper-capitalism via a number of minigames and enjoyable time-wasters. For instance, you can eat noodles at your local ramen bar, buy records at a music shop, and head to the arcade to fiddle with mini-games, including Soul Hounds III, which is basically Dig Dug, and Snake Duel, which is Snake from your old Nokia cellphone. Keep in mind that New Eridu isn’t a full-on open world, but rather a centralised hub that you can use as a break between tough missions.

Yes, you most certainly can pay for and play as this sexy wolf man in Zenless Zone Zero.

Gacha mechanics galore : Connected to the CRT TV roguelike maps are gacha mechanics. Missions are locked behind a currency called Battery Charge, which you’ll also use to get new gear and level up, and there’s yet another currency called Film that you can use to acquire more Battery Charge. There’s no telling how many currencies the final release of Zenless Zone Zero will actually have and how much it’ll cost to unlock every Hollow Raider in the game (each of which is allied with a specific faction), but you can bet that miHoYo’s usual standard of keeping lots of mobile-style mechanics in their premium games remains intact.

That’s all we know so far about Zenless Zone Zero. For more on this ultra cool dive into New Eridu, keep a lookout on Rock Paper Shotgun for the latest news as the latest Hoyoverse banger draws ever closer to its official release.

Zenless Zone Zero

Android , iOS , PS5 , PC

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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