HoYoverse has officially confirmed that Honkai: Star Rail version 4.6, titled "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise", will launch on September 28, 2026. The update continues the story in Astropolis and adds a new exploration mechanic called Astral Image.
Pearl, a new 5-star Ice character
The most notable character in version 4.6 is Pearl, a 5-star Ice character (described as Trailblazer-adjacent) with a unique kit. The skill Certified Banger reduces the damage allies have to take, while Deep Learning lets Pearl study the combat data of a designated ally to gain Enhanced ATK.
Official Zenless Zone Zero crossover in version 4.8
HoYoverse confirmed that Ellen and Astra Yao from Zenless Zone Zero will officially join the Honkai: Star Rail universe in version 4.8, expected to release in winter 2026. It is the first cross-game collaboration between the two games set in HoYoverse's Honkai universe.
Why is the Zenless Zone Zero crossover a notable milestone? Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero both belong to the "Honkaiverse", the shared universe HoYoverse has built across several of its games, but so far these games have operated independently, rarely letting characters appear across titles of different genres (Star Rail is a turn-based RPG, Zenless Zone Zero is real-time action). Bringing Ellen and Astra Yao from ZZZ into Star Rail marks the first time HoYoverse has truly connected its games in a way players can experience directly, rather than only hinting at it through hidden lore details.
Razer hardware collaboration
Alongside the in-game content, HoYoverse announced a collection of peripherals made with Razer themed on Silver Wolf LV.999, including a gaming chair, keyboard, mouse and headset styled after the character Silver Wolf.
OtaHub's take
Combining three directions of expansion at once, a new in-game character, a cross-universe crossover and a hardware collaboration, shows that HoYoverse is monetizing Honkai: Star Rail on several revenue layers, not just character gacha. The Razer partnership is especially notable because it targets long-term fans willing to pay for themed physical gear, a merchandise strategy rarely seen in mobile gacha games compared with esports brands or traditional console franchises.
- Version: Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise"
- Launch date: September 28, 2026
- New character: Pearl (5-star, Ice)
- Zenless Zone Zero crossover: Ellen & Astra Yao, confirmed for 4.8 (winter 2026)
- Hardware collaboration: Razer x Silver Wolf LV.999
