It’s 2026, and I still get chills thinking back to August 2024, when Zenless Zone Zero dropped its first major version 1.1 update, “Undercover R&B.” I had already sunk dozens of hours into New Eridu, falling for the Cunning Hares’ chaotic energy and Belobog Heavy Industries’ industrial grit. But HoYoverse had promised something special, and boy did they deliver. Even now, with all the new factions and Hollow Zero expansions we’ve seen since, that patch remains one of the most pivotal – and most fun – chapters in the Proxy’s journey.

To set the stage: if you hadn’t finished the main storyline back then, you were in for some mild spoilers. We’d already tangled with Victoria Housekeeping, learned a bit about the Hollow disaster, and started to piece together Wise and Belle’s past. But nagging questions remained. Who exactly controls Victoria Housekeeping? What is the Sacrifice monster? And where did the enigmatic AI Fairy actually come from? Version 1.1 didn’t answer all of those, but it sure did expand the world in a way that made me feel like a proper detective-turned-field-agent.

Two New S-Rank Agents: Qingyi and Jane Doe

The standout addition was, without a doubt, the two new S-Rank agents. First up: Qingyi, the Electric Stun specialist from N.E.P.S. (New Eridu Public Security). I remember pulling for her during Phase 1 of the signal search and instantly falling for her zapping, combo-heavy style. She builds “Flash Connect Voltage” by stunning enemies with Daze, then unleashes a devastating electric burst. Voice acted by the brilliant Kira Buckland in English, she quickly became Zhu Yuan’s perfect partner in my squad – her crowd-control made boss fights almost too easy. If you ever needed a reliable stunner who could also hold her own with damage, Qingyi was the answer.

Then came Jane Doe – the Physical Anomaly agent and core member of the Mountain Lion Gang. I’ll confess, her Phase 2 banner had me sweating over my Polychromes. Jane has this uncanny ability to enter a “Passion State,” where her attacks become this blur of rapid hits that stack Attribute Anomalies like nobody’s business. She’s lethal, fast, and stylish. But before she could join your squad, you had to face her as an adversary. That fight! I died three times learning her patterns. Her agile, unpredictable moves made me respect her even more. Today, in 2026, Jane remains my go-to Anomaly unit for speed-clearing Hollow Zero – her kit has aged like fine wine.

Accompanying the new agents were W-Engines like the Ice-Jade Teapot (S-Rank) and Sharpened Stinger (S-Rank) that perfectly complemented Qingyi and Jane’s quirks. I ended up splurging on the Peacekeeper – Specialized for my A-Rank agents too. Even now, some of those early W-Engines remain competitive, which says a lot about the devs’ foresight.

Events That Defined a Community

The 1.1 patch was also packed with events that genuinely fleshed out the world. The “Special Episode: Undercover R&B” dove deep into the Mountain Lion Gang’s conflict with Public Security, all under Jane’s elusive guidance. It felt more like watching a noir thriller than playing a gacha game. Then there was the “Agent Story: Case of a Missing Bangboo,” which gave us a more personal look at Qingyi’s softer side – I still smile remembering the Bangboo rescue.

And who could forget “Hollow Zero: Operation Reaper”? This new game mode threw us against Nineveh, a colossal Ethereal that was, at the time, the most punishing foe any Proxy had faced. The raid-style coordination required taught me that ZZZ’s combat had more depth than I’d initially assumed. Today’s Hollow Zero has evolved, but Operation Reaper was the blueprint.

On the lighter side, “Camellia Golden Week” let us bask in New Eridu’s most colorful holiday while racking up rewards. Promotional events like “First-Class Customer Service” (helping out at the video store) and “Daily Life of a PubSec Officer” added that slice-of-life charm that keeps me logging in even after two years. I still use the camera from “Scene One, Shot One!” to capture silly NPC moments.

Looking Back from 2026

Revisiting 1.1 in 2026, it’s clear how foundational that patch was. Qingyi and Jane Doe remain fan favorites, and the operational team (the “Proxies”) that I formed back then steered me through every major update since. The unanswered questions about Fairy and the Sacrifice monster? We’ve gotten answers over time – some satisfying, some teasing new mysteries – but that original hunger to dig deeper was ignited by the Undercover R&B campaign. If you’re a new player in 2026 staring at the massive ZZZ content map, consider grinding through the 1.1 story and agent banners. The agents? Still meta. The vibes? Immaculate. The memories? Priceless.