Zenless Zone Zero's newest leaked NPC looks... familiar

Zenless Zone Zero continues to experience steady growth, and while fans eagerly anticipate the introduction of several new playable characters, the roster of non-playable characters (NPCs) is also poised for expansion. When it comes to introducing new faces, HoYoverse has perfected a successful formula, effectively leveraging the gacha monetization model across a variety of video game genres to provide players with a myriad of unique experiences.

Given the excitement generated by new characters and their diverse abilities, leaks have become commonplace as the community constantly tries to speculate about who will next join Zenless Zone Zero's ranks, with a recent leak revealing a new NPC named Lucius who will be added to the game in the Version 1.1 update. This new Zenless Zone Zero NPC bears a striking resemblance to a playable character from Honkai: Star Rail, leading many players to speculate about a potential connection between the two games.

Similar to Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero features a gacha system that allows players to obtain new playable characters and gear. In Zenless Zone Zero, players can acquire these new characters and gear from Signal Searches during each update's phase. Moreover, each update introduces a variety of limited-time events and side quests, with some involving all-new characters making their debut in New Eridu.

Reddit user mayonakanosasayaki recently posted a Zenless Zone Zero leak from the reputable HoYoverse leaker BabyTeamLeaks, revealing the NPC model for Lucius. It is worth noting that BabyTeamLeaks has a track record of providing accurate information regarding the future of Zenless Zone Zero.

This NPC will be introduced in Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.1, but it remains unclear what role he will play in the main story or the game's side quests.

Already, the community is engaging in extensive speculation about the character, despite the limited information currently available about Lucius and his role in Zenless Zone Zero. This is due to Lucius's striking resemblance to Honkai: Star Rail's Aventurine, the IPC Strategic Investment Department senior manager and a member of the Ten Stonehearts.

Some users jokingly suggest that Aventurine was "isekai'd" and brought into the world of Zenless Zone Zero as Lucius. Despite the speculation, there is no evidence linking Lucius to Aventurine as of this moment.

As for the possibility of Lucius evolving into a playable character, there is a precedent for such a transition. HoYoverse's widely popular open-world adventure gacha game Genshin Impact has a history of taking NPCs introduced in early versions and making them playable through a seasonal update or patch. Some of the most beloved characters in the game, including Zhongli, Baizhu, Yae Miko, and Rosaria, started as NPCs.

As the version 1.1 update for Zenless Zone Zero draws ever closer, HoYoverse has been steadily revealing even more new agents, fueling the excitement of the eager community. Most recently, the developer unveiled Qingyi, an Electric Stun character who utilizes the Daze to gain an advantage in combat. Fortunately, Version 1.1 is scheduled to launch on August 14, so fans won't have to wait much longer.