Zenless Zone Zero, HoYoverse’s electrifying urban fantasy action RPG, took the gaming world by storm when it officially launched in July 2024. However, the journey from announcement to launch was fueled by an unprecedented pre-registration campaign that drew millions of proxy players eager to dive into New Eridu. Back in early 2024, HoYoverse opened a multi‑platform pre‑registration phase that eventually surpassed 40 million sign‑ups, setting a new benchmark for gacha titles from the creators of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. This retrospective guide revisits how players pre‑registered for Zenless Zone Zero across all available devices, the system requirements that defined access, the milestone rewards that ignited the community, and how those early preparations contributed to the game's explosive debut.
Pre‑Registration on PC
For those who preferred keyboard‑and‑mouse combat, pre‑registering on PC was straightforward. Fans visited the official global Zenless Zone Zero website and clicked the prominent “Pre‑Register” button located at either the top‑left or bottom‑right corner of the page. This prompted a login to their existing HoYoverse account—the same unified account used across Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Tears of Themis—allowing seamless cross‑progression once the game released. Before getting excited, prospective proxies were advised to compare their rigs against the minimum PC specifications, which demanded at least an Intel Core i5 processor (7th generation or equivalent), 8 GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU equivalent to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 with 4 GB of VRAM. DirectX 11 compatibility and 100 GB of available storage were also mandatory. Meeting these requirements ensured that the game’s fast‑paced, swap‑heavy combat and dynamic Hollow environments would run smoothly without stuttering during chaotic encounters.
Android Enlistment
Android users headed directly to the Google Play Store, either via direct link or by searching for “Zenless Zone Zero” under publisher COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. The “Pre‑register” button secured a spot in the launch‑day queue and, in many cases, triggered automatic downloads once the game went live. The Android spec sheet was equally important: devices needed to run Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher, with at least 4 GB of RAM and a processor comparable to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, MediaTek Helio G80, or Kirin 970. A stable internet connection and about 20 GB of free storage were recommended for day‑one patching. Phablets and tablets that barely scraped by were often the subject of community benchmark tests in the days leading up to release, with many users sharing optimised graphics presets on social media.
iOS Opt‑In
iPhone and iPad owners turned to the App Store to search for Zenless Zone Zero, tapping the “GET” button to pre‑order the free download. Enabling notifications from the game’s store page was a popular tip to receive an instant alert the moment servers opened. Importantly, HoYoverse stated that Zenless Zone Zero would not run on MacBooks, iMacs, or any iOS‑based computers, disappointing some Apple ecosystem enthusiasts. The mobile iOS requirements called for iOS 12.0 or later, an Apple A13 Bionic chip or better, and at least 3 GB of RAM—making the iPhone 11 and newer models the baseline for a playable experience. Many iPad Pro owners were pleasantly surprised by the game’s performance, which became a frequent topic in early reviews posted on Reddit and Discord.
PlayStation and Epic Games Channels
The PlayStation 5 was the only Sony console to support Zenless Zone Zero, leaving PS4 owners out of the fray. Pre‑registration here took the form of “Add to Wishlist” on the PlayStation Store, which also entitled players to exclusive PSN‑tied launch bonuses like avatar icons and in‑game currencies. Simultaneously, PC gamers who preferred the Epic Games Store could navigate to the dedicated ZZZ page and click “ADD TO WISHLIST.” This approach mirrored the wishlist‑based pre‑registration popularized by other cross‑platform live‑service games and gave both storefronts early metrics on interest.
Milestone Pre‑Registration Rewards
The pre‑registration campaign was gamified through global milestone goals. At the time of writing the original guides, the target stretched to a staggering 40 million registrations—a figure HoYoverse publicly tracked on the game’s website. The reward tiers unlocked progressively: early milestones granted Denny (the basic currency), Investigator Logs (experience materials), and W‑Engine upgrade components, while the final 40‑million tier awarded 20 Master Tapes and 10 Boopons (then called Coup‑Ens). Master Tapes belonged to the premium gacha currency used for pulling Agents (characters) and W‑Engines (weapons) from the limited and standard banners, whereas Boopons were specifically for obtaining Bangboos, the adorable robotic companion units that assist in combat. Securing these rewards incentivized players to pre‑register on multiple devices and even create additional HoYoverse accounts, amplifying the hype and guaranteeing a smoother early‑game re‑roll process.
The Expected Release Date and What Actually Happened
Throughout the pre‑registration window, HoYoverse remained coy about the exact launch date, only confirming a 2024 release window. However, the App Store displayed an expected date of July 3, 2024—a placeholder that the developer cautiously described as subject to change based on development progress. In reality, Zenless Zone Zero launched globally on July 4, 2024, just one day after that placeholder, catching many enthusiasts by surprise with a midnight rollout in several regions. The near‑perfect alignment with the store estimate fueled speculation that HoYoverse had strategically targeted that summer slot to capitalise on post‑major‑update lulls in its sister titles.
Zenless Zone Zero in 2026
Fast‑forward to 2026, Zenless Zone Zero has cemented itself as a pillar of HoYoverse’s growing universe. The pre‑registration rewards, once a hot topic, are now a nostalgic memory for veteran proxies who boast classic launch‑day Agent loadouts. The game has received multiple major expansions, introducing new city districts like Lumina Square and a rogues’ gallery of faction‑based storylines that continue the narrative threads teased in the beta tests. The community‑driven events and rhythm‑game‑inspired mini‑games have kept engagement high, while the gacha system has evolved with spark‑pity improvements and a larger Bangboo roster. The minimal device requirements have been adjusted upwards only slightly for newer content, ensuring that the optimistic pre‑registration specs published in 2024 still allow newcomers with mid‑range phones to join the action. As ZZZ marches toward its third anniversary, the record‑breaking 40‑million milestone remains a testament to the immense anticipation that HoYoverse can generate—and a reminder of the day millions of proxies signed up before ever stepping foot in the Hollow.