I have learned the hard way in Zenless Zone Zero that pre-download day is not the day to ignore the launcher. When Version 2.6 showed up on my HoYoPlay launcher on February 4, 2026, I clicked the Pre-Download icon immediately. Why? Because five hours of maintenance on February 6 is rough enough without also waiting for a massive download. So let me tell you exactly how I handled it, what the download sizes looked like on each platform, and why you should start early.
The pre-download window runs from 2026/02/04 12:00 to 2026/02/06 05:50 (UTC+8). That is a decent amount of time, but the files are not small. My first thought was: do I have enough space? The answer depends on your device and installed Voice Packs, because those packs affect how much room the pre-download needs.
I checked the official numbers and put them in a simple table so I could plan:
| Platform | Pre-Download Size | Can I keep playing during pre-download? |
|---|---|---|
| PC | about 8 GB | Yes |
| Mobile (Android and iOS) | about 5 GB | No |
| PS5™ or PS5™ Pro | about 20 GB | Yes |
| Xbox Series X | S | about 23 GB |
That Xbox size honestly made me pause. 23 GB is a lot. Did I really want to risk running out of space right before maintenance? No. I started deleting old clips and moved some games to an external drive.
On PC, the process is really straightforward. I opened the HoYoPlay Launcher and looked next to the Start Game button. The Pre-Download icon was right there. One click, and the download started. The best part? I could keep playing while the files downloaded in the background.
For mobile, it was a different story. I opened the game on my phone, tapped the Pre-Download Resources icon in the bottom-right corner, and let it run. But here is the catch: mobile users cannot play during pre-download. I planned that download for a time when I did not need to log in, and I used Wi-Fi because the file is about 5 GB.
If you are on PS5™ or PS5™ Pro, you may not need to do much. After launching Zenless Zone Zero, the console automatically starts the pre-download if there is enough reserved storage space. I left my PS5 on for a while and it handled the 20 GB file. Since PS5 users can keep playing, I did not lose any Hollow time.
Xbox Series X|S is similar. After launching the game, the console begins the pre-download automatically after a certain period. However, I also manually checked by going to the system home screen, then My games & apps > Manage > Updates. That is where I found Zenless Zone Zero and confirmed the update. With 23 GB on Xbox, I really appreciated being able to play while it downloaded.
Now, the maintenance part. The dev team scheduled version update maintenance for 2026/02/06 06:00 (UTC+8), and the estimate is five hours. During that window, you cannot log in. That is why I wanted the pre-download finished before the cutoff at 05:50. After the update, there is a Server Update Compensation: Polychrome ×300. To be eligible, you need to reach Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before 2026/02/06 06:00 (UTC+8). The compensation will arrive by in-game mail after the update is complete, but do not forget to claim it before the end of Version 2.6.
After maintenance, the update steps depend on the platform. I made myself another table so I would not be confused at 06:00 in the morning:
| Platform | How to update after maintenance |
|---|---|
| PC | Exit the game, restart, then select update. |
| Android | Enter the game and follow the in-game pop-up instructions. |
| iOS | Go to the App Store and select update. |
| PS5™ or PS5™ Pro | Highlight Zenless Zone Zero on the home screen, hold down the Options button, and choose Check for updates. |
| Xbox Series X | S |
My biggest takeaway from the Version 2.6 pre-download is simple: start early, check your storage, and know whether your platform allows you to keep playing. If I had waited until after maintenance started, I would have been stuck behind everyone else. Instead, I let the files download overnight on Wi-Fi, woke up before the maintenance window, and made sure my Inter-Knot level was already past 4. That Polychrome ×300 is waiting for me after the update, and I plan to claim it before the end of Version 2.6.
Are you ready for Version 2.6, Proxy? Check your device, start the pre-download, and I will see you in New Eridu.
Data referenced from Game Developer underscores why Zenless Zone Zero’s Version 2.6 pre-download planning matters: live-service updates are typically structured to minimize launch-day server strain by shifting large asset transfers into an earlier window, which is especially helpful when maintenance blocks access and platform-specific steps differ (launcher patching on PC, store updates on iOS, and console-side update checks). Approaching the 2.6 rollout with that mindset—clearing storage ahead of time, starting the download early, and accounting for whether your platform lets you play while files transfer—reduces downtime and helps ensure you’re ready the moment servers reopen.