Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.6 “Encore for an Old Dream” is a major update arriving on February 6, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, iOS, and Android, and it finally brings the idol group Angels of Delusion into the game’s story and events. This patch mixes new combat content, a big flagship event, and long‑teased idols, so it’s worth planning your pulls and time around it even if you mainly log in for dailies.
Angels of Delusion are introduced as an in‑universe idol group at the center of Version 2.6’s narrative, with the story and flagship event built around their debut performance in New Eridu. You’ll train with them, manage their rise, and pick up themed cosmetics and UI rewards by engaging with the new events tied to their faction.
Quick answer: what changes in 2.6?
Here’s the short version of what you’re getting with “Encore for an Old Dream”.
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New idol faction: Angels of Delusion, featured heavily in story and events.
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New S‑Rank agents: Sunna and Aria headline the update’s banners.
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Flagship event: A Harmony of Delusions, where you help train and promote the idols.
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New mode: Hollow Zero – Operation Matrix, a challenge‑focused expansion of endgame content.
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Themed rewards: UI skins, cosmetics, dynamic wallpaper, and premium currency from multiple limited‑time events.
If you just want to know “is Angels of Delusion worth caring about?”, the answer is yes if you enjoy character‑driven story, rhythm and management‑style side modes, or you plan to pull for the new idol agents Sunna and Aria.
Who are the Angels of Delusion in ZZZ 2.6?
In Zenless Zone Zero, Angels of Delusion are a new idol group whose debut is framed as the heart of Version 2.6’s “Encore for an Old Dream” storyline. The official teaser talks about “old dreams” and “delusions of dawn,” positioning them as young performers trying to make it big in a city that’s already seen plenty of disasters and celebrities.
From a player perspective, they matter for three reasons:
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They anchor the main event, A Harmony of Delusions.
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Their members are tied to new S‑Rank agents you can pull for.
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They unlock themed rewards and UI customization through the Angel’s Invitation event.
An example scenario: you unlock one of the Angels on a banner, that counts toward Angel’s Invitation, and now your function menu and wallpaper can be reskinned to match the group’s idol aesthetic.
When does Angels of Delusion content start?
Version 2.6 goes live on February 6, 2026, and that’s effectively the starting gun for most Angels of Delusion‑related content. Some lead‑in events referencing them run before that date, but if you’re a returning player, patch day is the safe point to jump back in.
Key dates for 2.6 and Angels of Delusion
| Item | Date / period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Version 2.6 release | February 6, 2026 | Global launch for “Encore for an Old Dream”. |
| Sunna banner (S‑Rank) | Feb 6 – Mar 4, 2026 | First 2.6 headliner, tied to Angels content. |
| Aria banner (S‑Rank) | Mar 4 – Mar 23, 2026 | Second headliner with idol gameplay focus. |
| Angel’s Invitation event | Sometime during 2.6 | Rewards for owning any Angels member. |
| A Harmony of Delusions | Sometime during 2.6 | Flagship idol training event. |
Exact start times for A Harmony of Delusions and Angel’s Invitation are only given as “sometime in Version 2.6” in current guides, so expect them to show up in‑game via notices once the patch is live.
What is the A Harmony of Delusions event?
A Harmony of Delusions is the main limited‑time event of 2.6 and the core way you’ll interact with Angels of Delusion as a group. Instead of just watching cutscenes, you act as support staff, helping them prepare for the Rising Star competition and their big performance.
You’ll be doing things like:
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Running training sessions over several in‑game “weeks”.
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Managing their social media presence and promotional efforts.
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Tackling side activities within a special Marcel‑style adventure mode.
Clearing the event’s objectives earns resources and at least one cosmetic reward, such as an event outfit for Pan Yinhu according to current breakdowns. The exact reward list can change between preview and live servers, so treat early specifics as subject to change until in‑game notices confirm them.
From a gameplay standpoint, think of it as a mix of light management sim, mini‑games, and standard combat assignments, all wrapped in idol theming rather than raw Hollow dives.
How do you get Angels of Delusion‑themed rewards?
If you’re mainly interested in the cosmetics and UI flair, Angel’s Invitation is the event you should pay attention to.
Unlocking Angels of Delusion menu themes
Angel’s Invitation is a reward event where you receive Angels of Delusion‑branded menu cosmetics simply by obtaining an Angels member from their banners. Current guide data lists these rewards:
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Angels of Delusion Function Menu Pendant
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Angels of Delusion Function Menu Theme
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Angels of Delusion Dynamic Wallpaper
You unlock them by adding any Angels of Delusion member (such as Sunna or Aria) to your account through their Signal Search banners. Once claimed, these rewards permanently change how your home menu, pendant, and background look, which is great if you want your account to visually reflect the idol faction.
New agents: what do Sunna and Aria bring?
HoYoverse’s 2.6 special program confirms that S‑Rank agents Sunna and Aria are the new headliners tied to Angels of Delusion. Both feature idol‑flavored kits that lean into coordinated attacks and high‑tempo burst combat.
Version 2.6 "Encore for an Old Dream" Pre-Download & Update Notice
byu/cakeel- inZenlessZoneZero
From the official program and community recaps:
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Aria can enter a powered‑up state (Ether Veil: Delusion Reprise) after building up resources, letting her fire off multiple fully charged heavy attacks back‑to‑back for big burst windows.
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Sunna synergizes with an “Angelic Chord‑ination” state, using coordinated attacks when triggered by a squadmate like Bubblegum and gaining buffs while the team is in that mode.
Is it worth logging in or returning for Angels of Delusion?
If you’ve been on a break from Zenless Zone Zero, Version 2.6 is an easy time to come back. You’re getting a new faction, flashy agents, and a batch of events that don’t require you to be caught up with every prior patch to understand what’s going on.
You’ll probably enjoy Angels of Delusion content if:
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You like character‑driven stories and idol or music‑themed side modes.
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You’re looking for fresh endgame content like Hollow Zero – Operation Matrix.
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You enjoy collecting cosmetics and UI themes that show off your pulls.
If you’re only here for raw combat meta, it’s still worth checking 2.6 because Operation Matrix and new Threshold Simulation challenges give you more ways to push squads, and Sunna/Aria add fresh team archetypes around coordinated burst windows.
