If you've been talking to people recently, then you've probably heard the same question over and over: Is Zenless Zone Zero Multiplayer? The answer is yes, but only in a limited capacity. Ultimately, ZZZ is primarily a single-player action RPG that revolves around solo-player story missions, Hollow exploration and character-action combat. As of the launch of Zenless Zone Zero in July 2024, HoYoverse has been progressively adding to the number of co-op features available to players (particularly since players added to the game). Now, with the release of version 2.7, "Champions Never Fall To The Past," ZZZ's multiplayer has never been more fleshed out!

In this guide we will explain what Multiplayer looks like in 2026, where it works; where it doesn't; and provide information on how players can access multiplayer, as well as which team types tend to perform well when engaging other players in battle.

Is Zenless Zone Zero Multiplayer In 2026?

So, is Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) multiplayer in 2026? Yes, but only in part. While ZZZ is not a shared, open-world co-op game (like Genshin Impact) nor is it at all comparable to an MMO-type experience (like Final Fantasy XIV), ZZZ provides players with opportunities for co-op play within a more structured game environment. Thus, while the game's primary components will remain overwhelmingly single-player games, certain specific modes and timed events will offer limited co-op game options for players.

As a player, your primary story commissions, HDD-based Hollow Deep Dive exploration, standard farming stages, and regular Shiyu Defense progression will continue to be single-player only. No other player will be able to join you in these modes. Hollow Raids are currently the main way to play with other players. Players can coordinate their squads to take down tougher bosses and objectives in the game. Each player has their own squad of three Agents and a Bangboo. There are many factors that are considered when trying to defeat the bosses (i.e. type of agents, how many of each type, etc.) and unless your team is coordinated in its use of agents and roles (e.g. offensive ager, defensive agent, etc.), you probably will not be successful in completing an event.

The following table shows a breakdown of each type of event available for multiplayer, how many people can be in each event, and what type of co-op game mode is supported.

Multiplayer Event	Supports Multiplayer	# of Players
Main Story Commissions	No	1
Hollow Deep Dive (HDD)	No	1
Local Resource Farming	No	1
Hollow Raids	Yes	Up to 3
Event Relay Battles	YES (With Restrictions)	Up to 3
Shiyu Defense/Infinite Abyss	No	1
Leaderboards/Simulated Battle Trial	Asynchronous	NA

Multiplayer Modes in ZZZ

Multiplayer in ZZZ was created to focus on structured activities vs. free roaming with your friends as has been seen in the past. If you expect there to be a lot of open-ended activities while playing with friends, you will probably be disappointed very quickly. In modes like Special Disaster Control Squad from Version 2.7, you (the player) don't always fight in the same manner and/or at the same time. The players split off their rosters into several two-person sub-squads that will each complete relay stages in sequential fashion. Since no Agent or Bangboo can be reused amongst the (separate) sub-squads, roster depth has much greater importance compared to pre-2.7, where there was not as much emphasis placed on the recruitment of sub-squad members that provided faction synergy.

Additionally, there are global leaderboards that have the same format (score-based competition) but only one form (Asynchronous) of multiplayer participation, including such content as Infinite Abyss and the Updated Simulated Battle Trial. Although you don't compete in real-time, you still are competing against other players for scores that have been submitted on global leaderboards.

Co-op in ZZZ as of Version 2.7

As of now, co-op in ZZZ is operated through a matchmaking queue system that is exclusively for same-server play in real-time. For example, players on the Asia server cannot queue with players on the America or Europe server. This means that even though the majority of players currently playing aren't able to join each other in matchmaking because of the server-side restrictions in place that are tied to the separation of regional account data by HoYoverse, you'll still be able to join each other as long as you're in the same region with those who are also retrieving co-op within the confines of ZZZ. When participating in the Hollow Raid mode of play, you can either invite a friend to join you in co-op or you can queue publicly and be matched with players around your Inter-Knot level. One thing to keep in mind once you've decided to participate in co-op is that multiplayer participation in ZZZ is not a permanent feature. There are certain types of co-op content that are only available to players to participate in during event windows that may occur at any point in time through regular patch updates.

Not many people will consider as co-op when they see the content that is currently available for player to play through. For example, the main story with Season 2 and the additional Epilogue content that was added in Version 2.7XXXXXXXXXXXXXXcurrently remains all single-player. HDD Hollow exploration is for solo players only, and the same applies to your regular daily farming, whether you're farming Drive Disc components for upgrading the W-Engine or Agent EXP items. HoYoverse has made it clear they want the story/narrative progression of ZZZ to remain a private, self-sufficient experience; doing so allows for the preservation of the rhythm of gameplay vs solely story progression.

Co-op restrictions in Zenless Zone Zero

When creating co-op gaming sessions with your buddies, the restrictions on Zenless Zone Zero multiplayer games are just as important as, and go hand-in-hand with, knowing what modes can be used to conduct them. The most significant restriction is the regional server lock; the server you signed up with when you first logged in is what your account ties into, and the only way to switch to a different server is to create a whole brand new account. If you live in America, Europe, Asia or TW/HK/MO, then you are in a separate regional "pool," as of 2026 no form of cross-regional co-op is possible.

There are also levels of experience that must be achieved before the co-op activates. You must achieve a minimum Inter-Knot Level (IKL) before you can participate in activities such as Hollow Raids and other co-op types of content. The designers are trying to ensure you understand all of your character's basic functions as an Agent — such as what the different Bangboo passives do; how to use and incorporate the various combat mechanics into your agent's gameplay; and how your entire squad of Agents works together in a co-op.

On the other side, however, the situation is substantially improved. By the time Version 2.7 has been released, ZZZ will be playable on PC via both HoYoPlay and Epic Games Store, iOS, Android, PS5, PS5 Pro, XR Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). Cross-play between PC, PS5, and Xbox is fully functional. As long as you and your friend are playing on the same regional server, you can play together regardless of platform.

This is a significant step forward in terms of convenience for those who play and progress in a live-service action game like ZZZ that supports cross-play.

Multiplayer restrictions

While there is some level of cooperation when playing cooperatively, the game has several limitations when it comes to playing multiplayer with other players.

Unfortunately, there is no shared overworld in New Eridu for players to explore together in real-time. Players can explore certain areas like Sixth Street and Lumina Square, but those are solo-only areas. There is no cooperative play in the free-roam sections of the city, the daily routine of NPCs, or the arcade-style mini-games.

The rewards you earn when playing in co-op are separate from the rewards you earn in solo play. For example, if you cleared a Hollow Raid with someone, that wouldn't count towards any of the normal solo grind you need to do to get to level up your characters with food or by collecting skill-up materials. While co-op play provides a social aspect to the game, it does not affect your core gameplay progression loop.

Playing Multiplayer with ZZZ

Once you’ve opened up co-op in ZZZ, it’s easy to join other players in a cooperative experience. First, go to the Commissions menu on the main screen (or co-op modes if they’re available), and select either Hollow Raids or any other available event-based multiplayer modes. From there, you can invite your friend by using their UID or from your friends list; if they are linked to HoYoLAB, they can also receive an invitation via the notification tab in their account. If your party isn't full, you can fill the remaining slots automatically by utilizing public matchmaking.

You may underestimate how important connection quality is. ZZZ's combat relies on very precise timing for Perfect Dodges, Assist Counters, and using your EX Special Attack effectively. If you have an unstable ping, these visual markers may not translate properly into the action on-screen. While that will be irritating for simpler content (just like the earlier mentioned connection), being unable to respond with proper timing during harder raids can become detrimental if you are running a timed event.

If you really enjoy co-op play, a wired Ethernet/5GHz Wi Fi setup is your best bet---it's much better than relying on mobile data.

Basic thoughts on setup

Your input options will have a large impact on your multiplayer experience. Controllers tend to be the most fluid (and arguably best) way to play on PC, PS5 and Xbox. Using analog-stick movement allows for smoother transitions throughout boss patterns and while transitioning through phases. If you're familiar with a keyboard/mouse combo, you can use them; however, given the pace of the combat in ZZZ's style of play, executing quick adjustments and maintaining tight movement will not always feel as intuitive.

Audio is much more important than players think in co-op, as the game will warn you about off-screen attacks, projectile trajectories, and boss sweeps by providing you with a distinctive metallic sound, and an audible directional cue. If you are playing with high latency, not being able to differentiate between directions can slow down your response time. Below is a revised version of the given content.

Prior to initiating a session, it is also helpful to conduct a rapid stability examination.

• Make sure there aren't any downloads occurring in the background.

• Ensure that HoYoPlay is not preloading any patch files.

• Attempt to route through VPN as little as possible.

• Attempt to use the most stable network connection available.

These minor details can greatly reduce the number of missed inputs you experience.

Best Teams for Zenless Zone Zero Multiplayer

When crafting your team in co-op play, the fundamentals of team composition and role distribution remain unchanged from those in solo play. However, role specialization becomes ever more significant in co-op play since each Proxy in Hollow Raids includes three Agents on his or her team and the cumulative total number of players from each team creates a single, larger macro-team.

Thus, the safest and strongest pairing in Hollow Raids is a Stun setup (team) with a burst damage dealer (team). After an enemy has been Dazed into a Stun state, every Team has an additional product to share.

Anomaly damage building is also an effective means of creating sustained damage output over time, particularly in longer raid scenarios where bosses are not destroyed in a single burst cycle. Therefore, Stun-heavy teams can be combined with Anomaly-heavy teams to produce consistent damage output (in two different periods) to create a greater opportunity for achievement.

In general, if you are new to cooperative play in this game, simpler combinations of teams seem to yield the highest degree of success. For example, a team built on Stun-type Agents with an emphasis on Anomaly-type Agents will likely enjoy greater success than an individual type of construction alone. The way the spins read is very clear — Generate Daze, Trigger Stun, Throw EX Specials — which helps out tremendously in terms of also being able to see what your partner is doing as well. And don't discount Bangboo Picks. In a co-op scenario, Bangboos that correlate to your faction or primary attribute will provide a notable amount of Chain Attack damage; they're nothing more than just an aesthetic.

Solid Co-Op Archetypes

A few major archetypes stand out in the current Version 2.7 co-op environment:

• Ether Stun Enabler: One of the best examples is through Nangong Yu. Her Downbeat mechanic enhances the Stun duration of enemies, creating a larger time frame of a shared Burst Window between all players, which is extremely valuable in a multiplayer setting. Furthermore, her Ultimate grants all of her squadmates an Attack Buff, which becomes even stronger as the number of active Agents benefiting from it increases.

• Electric Burst Carry: Cissia fits this role well in the current patch. She has the potential for massive amounts of single-target damage but can hit even harder during Stun Windows. Additionally, Cissia has a Venom stack system that rewards resource management; therefore, if a squad enters into a raid with their stacks set up through the use of EX Specials prior to the boss being stunned, Cissia is guaranteed to be able to capitalise on that as soon as the boss is stunned.

• Anomaly Breaker Shell: These units are built around the strategy of layering multiple elemental debuffs, which in turn are designed to produce Disorder reactions. In co-operative mode, varying Proxies have the potential to trigger Disorder due to multiple anomalies being applied to the target, resulting in a greater frequency of procs compared to solo play. Consequently, Anomaly-centric sub-squads will be much more effective in raids as they will have an increased impact against mixed enemy waves.

Zenless Zone Zero Multiplayer FAQ

Is ZZZ completely co-operative?

Absolutely not. Almost all aspects of ZZZ are single-player based; the entire storyline, Hollows, and resource gathering are all done solo. Co-op multiplayer is available through select gameplay modes such as Hollows Raid and alternating event modes.

Can I have friends play the story with me?

No. Story commissions are for one person - this includes Season 2 chapters and Version 2.7 Epilogue. You will not be able to have friends assist you in completing the content of the story.

Does cross-play work?

Yes. You can play ZZZ across three different platforms (PC, iOS, Android, PS5, Series X|S) as long as users stay on their respective regions.

Will there be an increase in multiplayer content?

Yes, according to HoYoverse's past Dev Talks. The development team has already stated that there are co-op enhancements in the works including a new joint Chain Attack system for players in the same squad to use Chain Attack sequences together. They've also stated that they plan to release additional styles of relay-style combat events; thus, co-op options should see continual increases throughout Season 3 and beyond.

Final thought

The most concise answer to this question is "Yes, but with a limited scope." ZZZ is still fundamentally a single-player action RPG; it has developed into a co-op action RPG along with standard (solo) RPG elements through additions of new features and content to support multi-player gameplay. If you are wanting a traditional MMO-style experience with a fully interactive world, you should not consider ZZZ. If you want multiplayer as another layer added to your single-player progression, i.e., weekly raids with friends or event-based relay challenges, you will be happy with the results produced through all of the above mentioned activities.

Co-op is an attractive option for Proxies who have completed the main storyline and have assembled enough needed roster members to successfully create multiple sub-squads, as well as want to invest more social aspects into their endgame experience. Going forward it is clear that Proxies can expect to see more relay formats, better integrated Chain Attack mechanics and continued support of Hollow Raid. The framework has already been established and each revision following has continued to create incremental improvement to the co-op layer within Zenless Zone Zero. Good luck with hunting, Proxies.

Trends are identified by Data.ai (App Annie), whose market intelligence around live-service games helps contextualize why Zenless Zone Zero emphasizes limited, mode-based co-op (like raids and timed relay events) rather than fully open multiplayer—supporting the idea that structured sessions, cross-play convenience, and repeatable endgame activities often drive sustained engagement without disrupting the game’s primarily solo progression loop.