With the release of version 1.4 of Zenless Zone Zero, the game finds itself in a soft reboot of sorts. Huge changes, completely revamped features, huge tweaks to combat and story missions. This is a new era for gaming, and one that clearly hopes to both improve the experience for loyal fans and win back those who no longer like it.
So I wanted to learn more about the team's approach to making big changes, and where they see the game's place within the HoYoverse catalog and the wider gaming landscape. ZZZ producer Li Zhenyu and two mysterious staff members known as “Game Designer-X” and “Game Designer-Y” answered my questions via email.
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Perhaps the one change that sums up Zenless Zone Zero's development style is its TV mode missions. Reaction to version 1.0 of the game was mixed, and has dropped significantly in past major updates. Now, HoYoverse has retroactively added the option to avoid them entirely in main story missions, replacing them with 3D Eous exploration missions. It's safe to say this was a time and money intensive decision based on fan feedback.
Li et al.: “Since the launch of Zenless Zone Zero, we have been actively listening to feedback from the player community. We sincerely appreciate our players' honest opinions, whether they are support or criticism. At the same time, we are committed to addressing player concerns in every game update , while staying true to Zenless Zone Zero’s core vision and unique features, many Zenless Zone Zero players so far have noticed our efforts, even jokingly calling us “the development team that really listened to us” as a nod to the improvements. We're ready to play.
“TV mode has been a hotly debated topic among players. After we released the 'Develop Face to Face' video in September, many players expressed their concerns, saying that TV mode was a unique storytelling tool they didn't want to see. In fact, we There were never plans to remove TV mode entirely, but rather to reduce its overall proportion in the content to ensure a smoother gameplay and combat experience.”
“As version 1.4 rolls out, we will continue to pay attention to player feedback on these changes. Since Zenless Zone Zero is designed for long-term operation, it is a big step for us to listen to players and continue to optimize and innovate the game. Long-term tasks. Commitments may change dynamically over time.”
When asked if the developers were concerned that this shift would lead to fewer opportunities to try out the TV mode (something they're clearly keen to do, as seen with Golden Week events and massive RPGs hidden within the game's side quests), The group assured me the opposite.
Li et al.: “To be honest, we're not worried about it. We take the negative feedback about TV mode seriously, but we don't ignore that there are still a lot of players who love it. The real issue may just be that more is needed as we shift our focus away from the number of TV modes When we move away, we can focus even more on making it more fun and playable, drawing on insights from our previous successful innovations to create even more refined and engaging TV mode gameplay.”
I want to touch on another main topic. As Hoyoverse continues to expand its repertoire, its games take up a large portion of the calendar. As a result, being a HoYoverse fan is no longer a hobby but a full-time job. Especially if you want to spend money on these games. Is the team worried about everything being crowded?
Li et al.: “I believe that player retention is critical not just for Zenless Zone Zero, but for any long-running game. Today, every new game has to compete not only with other games, but with a variety of needs. “Entertainment platforms compete for users' time, such as social media, video streaming platforms and other non-gaming products, so when we think about improving Zenless Zone Zero's competitiveness, we do so in the broader context of the overall market.”
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“In the face of increasing competition, our top priority remains to create a truly unique product. Whether it’s our art, music, or combat system, our goal is to ensure that players enjoy Zenless Zone Zero every time they play it. Feel the care and uniqueness behind it. At the same time, we continue to listen to player feedback – as a new game launched this year, “Zenless Zone” Zero's continued growth relies heavily on player support and constructive criticism, and we want players to know that their voices are not only heard but also translated into tangible improvements to the game.”
“That's why Zenless Zone Zero has undergone significant changes from version 1.0 to the current version 1.4. Going forward, our team will closely follow player feedback while staying true to the core aspirations of Zenless Zone Zero.”
Well, if trying to create a unique product is important, how exactly does this game stand out in the minds of the team? Also, how do they view this game in the wider HoYoverse pantheon – a loser? An ambitious up-and-comer?
Li et al.: “HoYoverse operates each of its games independently, so it's difficult to determine Zenless Zone Zero's exact “place” within it. I think every game, whether it's universally loved or the hottest topic online, deserves its place in Evaluate it in a broader context. Of course, Zenless Zone Zero is the youngest game under HoYoverse, and our team is relatively young – which is why I believe we still have a long way to go.”
So when the game found itself re-released, there was a rush in the development team's minds. Whether this mentality leads to better, more popular games is a question that will need to be revisited in the coming months, but it's certainly a way to make fans feel like their voices are heard. Perhaps, in this day and age when community building is everything, that’s enough.
