HoYoverse has confirmed a crossover between Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail, tying together two of its most popular games. The first sign showed up on July 17, 2026, when Pom-Pom, the conductor of the Astral Express, was spotted wandering around Sixth Street in New Eridu. The studio quickly clarified that this was intentional and that a full collaboration is on the way.
Quick answer: The collaboration is officially confirmed for winter 2026, but no exact release date has been announced. Pom-Pom is already interactable inside Zenless Zone Zero across all servers. Reported character swaps (Astra Yao, Ellen, and Robin) come from leaks and are not yet official.
What HoYoverse has officially confirmed
The collaboration is real and acknowledged by the developer. In its teaser, HoYoverse framed Pom-Pom’s arrival as a playful “bug,” joking that a technical evaluation could not fix the sudden appearance of “Pom-Pomboo” on Sixth Street. That teaser doubles as the first official confirmation that Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail are crossing over.
Alongside the announcement, the studio shared a promotional banner that lists the launch window as winter 2026. Beyond that window, no specifics about the collaboration have been revealed. HoYoverse said more information will come in future official announcements.
Note: There is no confirmed release date or time yet, only the winter 2026 window. Treat any exact date circulating online as unverified.
Where to find Pom-Pom in Zenless Zone Zero
Pom-Pom appears as an unidentified Bangboo on Sixth Street and can be interacted with for special dialogue. You will find it in several spots tied to the Random Play Video Store, plus other locations across the block. Each stop has its own short scene.
| Location | What happens |
|---|---|
| Inside Random Play Video Store (main branch) | Pom-Pom stands near the videotape display, looking for a comic called “Pom-Pom’s Bizarre Adventure,” which mentions Planacardia and carries a fanfiction tag. |
| Near the store counter | Pom-Pom interacts with Eous, comparing their heights and the length of their ears. |
| Parking lot behind the video store | Pom-Pom is in the corner, wanting to clean out the dusty area and boxes. |
| Outside Random Play | Pom-Pom asks for help trying the other stores on Sixth Street and keeps cleaning to earn Dennies. |
Pom-Pom has also been reported near 404 Livehouse (Club 404) and the Gadget Store, so its appearances are spread across Sixth Street rather than limited to a single scene.
Leaked character swaps (unconfirmed)
Because HoYoverse is calling this a crossover, players expect characters to move between the two games. Leaks point to a three-character swap, though none of it is official. Treat the names below as rumors until the developer confirms them.
| Character | From | Reported destination |
|---|---|---|
| Astra Yao | Zenless Zone Zero | Honkai: Star Rail |
| Ellen | Zenless Zone Zero | Honkai: Star Rail |
| Robin | Honkai: Star Rail | Zenless Zone Zero |
Leaks also suggest the swap lines up with the Honkai: Star Rail 4.7 update, described as a patch dedicated to the collaboration where Astra Yao and Ellen would show up. It is not yet clear whether these characters would be fully playable or appear only as cameos. Robin, a support performer in Honkai: Star Rail, would fit New Eridu’s roster of singers and stage acts if she does cross over.
Timing and what to watch next
The crossover is scheduled for winter 2026, and Pom-Pom’s cameo is the opening move rather than the whole event. In the near term, the Zenless Zone Zero 3.1 update is expected toward the end of the month, adding new playable characters and other content, though it is separate from the crossover itself.
For now, the confirmed parts are the collaboration itself, the winter 2026 window, and Pom-Pom’s presence in Zenless Zone Zero. Everything about specific playable characters and dates remains rumor until HoYoverse shares its next official announcement.
