I’m writing this from a player’s perspective after going through the Version 2.1 patch notes for Zenless Zone Zero. The update is called “The Impending Crash of Waves,” and it brings a large wave of new Agents, events, areas, outfits, and quality-of-life changes. The maintenance period was scheduled for about five hours on 2025/07/16 at 06:00 (UTC+8), and after it ended, Proxies could claim two sets of compensation.
Update Compensation
I always check the mail first after an update, and Version 2.1 includes two Polychrome rewards. The Server Update Compensation offers Polychrome ×300, and the Issue Fix Compensation offers another Polychrome ×300. To claim them, you need to reach Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before 2025/07/16 06:00 (UTC+8). The server compensation can be claimed until the end of Version 2.1, while the issue fix compensation must be claimed before 2025/08/15 23:59 (UTC+8). The in-game mail expires after 30 days, so I made sure not to leave those attachments sitting.
How to Update on Each Platform
The patch notes included platform-specific instructions. On PC, I exited the game, restarted, and selected update. On Android, the game shows an in-game pop-up after entering. On iOS, I went to the App Store and selected update. For PS5 or PS5 Pro, I highlighted Zenless Zone Zero on the home screen, held down the Options button, and checked for updates. On Xbox, I opened the dashboard, went to My games & apps, then Manage, and confirmed the update from the Updates page.
New S-Rank Agents and Gear
Version 2.1 added two S-Rank Agents. Ukinami Yuzuha is a Support Agent with the Physical attribute. Her skills can apply Sweet Scare to enemies, which provides ATK and DMG Bonus for the whole squad. She also boosts Anomaly Buildup Rate, increasing Attribute Anomaly DMG and Disorder DMG for the team. I think she will be a strong pick for Anomaly-focused teams.
Alice is an Anomaly Agent with the Physical attribute. She relies on Attribute Anomaly effects to deal damage. When she uses Polarized Assault, she can ignore attribute accumulation to deal damage equivalent to a regular Assault. That sounds dangerous in the best way.
There are also new S-Rank W-Engines. Metanukimorphosis is a Support W-Engine available from the “Dissonant Sonata” Signal Search. Practiced Perfection is an Anomaly W-Engine available from the “Dazzling Choir” Signal Search. The new S-Rank Bangboo is Miss Esme, available through “An Outstanding Partner” Signal Search.
Main Story, Trust Events, and New Areas
Season 2 Chapter 2 is called “The Impending Crash of Waves.” It is permanently available after the Version 2.1 update, and I needed to complete Season 2 Chapter 1 “Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn” to unlock it. There is also an Advance Screening option for players who want to experience Season 2 content early.
New Agent Trust Events and Quality Time Events were added for Alice and Ukinami Yuzuha. Two new areas also opened. Sailume Bay adds ambient events in the Lower-Level District of Waifei Peninsula and unlocks through the main story. Fantasy Resort adds ambient events in its streets and unlocks through the Tales of Midsummer Dreams event storyline.
Outfits and Cosmetics
I really like the new outfits. Yuzuha’s Tanuki in Broad Daylight outfit is available at a limited-time discount of Monochrome ×1,350 during Version 2.1. After the discount, it reverts to Monochrome ×1,680. Alice’s Sea of Thyme outfit goes on sale from 2025/08/06 12:00 server time until the end of Version 2.1, with the same discount structure.
Belle’s Summer Skies and Wise’s Peaceful Waves outfits can be obtained for free by completing limited-time reward missions during the “Tales of Midsummer Dreams” event. After Version 2.1 ends, they will be available for purchase in the Store.
Event Schedule
Here is a quick table of the major Version 2.1 events I noted:
| Event | Duration | Key Reward or Theme |
|---|---|---|
| All-New Program | After update – 2025/09/03 03:59 | Encrypted Master Tape ×10 |
| Tales of Midsummer Dreams | 2025/07/17 – 2025/09/03 | Summer story, free outfits |
| Legend of the Marvelous Fish Stall | 2025/07/22 – 2025/08/11 | Sea Wizard Bangboo |
| “En-Nah” Chess Legend | 2025/07/28 – 2025/09/03 | Marcel Group secret training |
| Advanced Bounty: Routine Cleanup | 2025/08/01 – 2025/08/06 | Double Routine Cleanup rewards |
| “En-Nah” Into Your Lap | 2025/08/06 – 2025/09/03 | Boopon ×10 |
| Ghost Ship Adventure | 2025/08/06 – 2025/08/25 | Alice-focused spooky event |
| JoJo’s Space Mystery | 2025/08/13 – 2025/08/25 | Love across the universe |
| Failume Summer Puzzle | 2025/08/20 – 2025/09/03 | Summer puzzle event |
| Data Bounty: Combat Simulation | 2025/08/27 – 2025/09/01 | Double Combat Simulation rewards |
Endless Tower: Glory is also available after the Version 2.1 update. Proxies can challenge the Simulated Battle Trial in “Battle Trial: Glory” to earn an exclusive avatar, namecard, titles, Hamster Cage Pass, Tuning Calibrator, Polychromes, Hi-Fi Master Copies, and other rare rewards.
New Content and System Changes
A new A-Rank Agent, Pan Yinhu (Defense – Physical), was added permanently to the “Star-Studded Cast” Stable Channel. His A-Rank W-Engine Tremor Trigram Vessel is also available permanently. New enemies include Miasmic Fiend – Unfathomable, Sacrifice – Heretic Jester, and Miasma Spawn.
I appreciate the new quality-of-life additions. The Outfit Preview interface now supports zoom, rotation, and camera adjustment for Agent and Protagonist models. The mini-map now shows pathfinding lines to mission locations, which makes navigation much easier. Quick Travel also gained a pin feature so I can favorite my most visited districts.
There are new accessories in Devon Pawnshop, new Agent avatars in DM – Contacts, new achievements, titles, wallpapers, Master Training lessons in Compendium – Tactics, and Espresso as an option at Tin Master’s Coffee in Waifei Peninsula.
Combat and Mode Adjustments
Shiyu Defense Critical Node received new buff effects across four phases. Phase I boosts CRIT DMG and Anomaly Proficiency, while Phase II reduces enemy Physical RES and Ether RES. Phase III increases Physical and Electric Anomaly Buildup Rate and ATK, and Phase IV boosts Physical DMG, Electric DMG, and Anomaly Proficiency. Deadly Assault now shows the current phase’s best total score and overall ranking after obtaining 9 Stars.
Hollow Zero: Lost Void increased its Investigation Progress level cap from 160 to 180 and added new Task Force Missions. Yuzuha and Alice received Tactical Prism Programs, and the new Perpetrator Battle – Task Force Assault gameplay mode is available. Many interface, sorting, button mapping, and display issues were also fixed.
Overall, Version 2.1 feels like a packed summer update. I’m especially looking forward to trying Alice’s Anomaly playstyle and collecting the free Belle and Wise outfits before the event ends.