Image Credit: HoyoVerse

The next chapter of Honkai: Star Rail is taking the Astral Express somewhere completely different.

HoYoverse’s Version 4.5 Special Program, “To Roll the Stars in Astropolis,” aired on August 14, revealing a new destination, two brand-new 5-Star character variants, returning characters, new events, quality-of-life improvements, and a surprise collaboration with Zenless Zone Zero.

Version 4.5 is scheduled to launch on August 26, 2026, and unlike the heavy story focus of previous versions, this update is taking the Astral Express on a much more relaxed summer adventure.

Here’s everything revealed during the livestream.

Welcome to Astropolis

After the events of Planarcadia, the Astral Express is heading to Astropolis, a new destination located in the Epsilon system.

The official preview describes Astropolis as a “City of Converging Stars” and an important location connected to the Interastral Peace Corporation. The story will involve the IPC’s Marketing Development Department and Pearl, who asks the Astral Express for help as the situation surrounding Planarcadia continues to develop.

The new destination gives Version 4.5 a noticeably different atmosphere. Rather than immediately jumping into another massive world-ending crisis, HoYoverse is presenting the update as a summer getaway.

But there appears to be more going on beneath the surface. The official story description asks players to decide whether Astropolis should be protected or abandoned, suggesting that the vacation may not be as peaceful as it initially appears.

A New Trailblaze Continuance

Version 4.5 will feature a new Trailblaze Continuance following the events of Planarcadia.

The story sends the Trailblazer and the Astral Express toward Astropolis while the characters continue dealing with the consequences of the Planarcadia crisis. Aventurine also has his own reason for being involved. According to the official preview, he continues investigating a potential traitor among the Ten Stonehearts.

This means Version 4.5 is not simply a standalone summer event. It continues several of the larger plot threads established during the previous story arc.

Robin • Summeretto Makes Her Debut

One of the biggest announcements was the introduction of Robin • Summeretto, a completely new playable version of Robin.

Despite sharing Robin’s identity, Summeretto is a separate 5-Star character with her own combat kit.

Robin • Summeretto

• Rarity: 5-Star
• Element: Wind
• Path: Remembrance

Her Remembrance classification is particularly notable because this is a completely different Path from the original Robin, who is a Physical Harmony character.

The new version appears to be designed around the Remembrance mechanics introduced in the game’s 3.x and 4.x updates.

This also makes Summeretto much more than a cosmetic alternate version. Players will effectively have two different Robins who can occupy very different roles in team building.

Aventurine • Waveflair Arrives

Robin isn’t the only character receiving a new summer incarnation.

Aventurine • Waveflair will also become playable in Version 4.5.

Aventurine • Waveflair

• Rarity: 5-Star
• Element: Quantum
• Path: Elation

Like Summeretto, Waveflair is mechanically distinct from the original Aventurine. The original Aventurine is an Imaginary Preservation character, while Waveflair becomes a Quantum Elation character.

This is especially interesting because Elation is one of Honkai: Star Rail’s newer Paths, giving Waveflair access to a completely different gameplay identity.

The new Aventurine also plays into the more relaxed vacation theme of the update while continuing his ongoing storyline with the IPC.

Version 4.5 Banner Schedule

The livestream confirmed a particularly valuable banner lineup.

Phase One

Robin • Summeretto

Hyacine

Hyacine’s return gives players another opportunity to obtain the Remembrance character, while Summeretto becomes the major new addition to the first phase.

Phase Two

Aventurine • Waveflair

Ashveil

Ashveil’s rerun is likely to attract considerable attention from players who missed the character during his original release.

This makes Version 4.5 an unusually expensive patch for players interested in multiple characters.

Players could potentially be choosing between Summeretto, Hyacine, Waveflair, and Ashveil within the same update.

A New Light Cone: A Little Getaway

The livestream also revealed a new 4-Star Elation Light Cone called A Little Getaway.

The Light Cone is designed for characters following the Elation Path. Its effect increases the wearer’s Elation and allows Elation Skills to ignore a portion of the target’s DEF.

There was some confusion surrounding its availability immediately following the broadcast. HoYoverse later clarified that A Little Getaway will enter the Stellar Warp in Version 4.6, and it will not be added to the Departure Warp or Herta’s Store.

That clarification is important for players planning their Light Cone pulls.

Astropolis Brings New Maps and Exploration

Version 4.5 will introduce new areas connected to Astropolis.

The official Version 4.5 preview emphasizes the new location as an important IPC-controlled destination and expands the universe beyond Planarcadia.

The update’s presentation also showcased new environments and locations for players to explore as part of the summer storyline.

While Astropolis may initially look like a vacation destination, the story’s emphasis on the IPC, Pearl, and the fate of Planarcadia suggests that players should expect the situation to become considerably more serious.

Faster Story Dialogue Is Finally Coming

One of the most welcome quality-of-life additions revealed during the livestream is the ability to speed up story dialogue.

Players will be able to increase the playback speed of dialogue during story missions, making it easier to move through conversations that they have already experienced or simply want to read more quickly.

It’s a relatively small feature, but it could make a noticeable difference for players who feel that some story segments move too slowly.

Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero

The biggest surprise saved for the presentation was arguably the announcement of a crossover between two HoYoverse games.

Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero are officially collaborating.

The collaboration is scheduled for Winter 2026 and will bring characters from the world of Zenless Zone Zero into Honkai: Star Rail. HoYoverse has not yet revealed every detail about how the collaboration will work, so there is plenty left to discover.

Still, the announcement alone is significant.

Both games have enormous global communities, and seeing their characters interact could create one of HoYoverse’s most anticipated crossover events yet.

Version 4.5 Is Shorter Than Normal

Another notable detail is that Version 4.5 will run for five weeks, rather than the standard six-week update cycle. This means players will have less time to collect Stellar Jade, complete events, and prepare for the next update.

It also makes planning particularly important for players interested in both phases of the banner.

Final Thoughts

The Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 livestream delivered a surprisingly different update from what players may have expected.

Robin • Summeretto and Aventurine • Waveflair are undoubtedly the stars of the update, giving two popular characters completely new identities through the Remembrance and Elation Paths. Meanwhile, the returns of Hyacine and Ashveil make the banner schedule particularly difficult for players trying to manage their Stellar Jade.

Astropolis also gives the game a chance to slow down after the events of Planarcadia, although the story’s focus on the IPC and Pearl suggests this vacation won’t stay peaceful for long.

And then there’s the announcement that could have the biggest long-term impact: Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero.

With Version 4.5 launching on August 26, the Astral Express is heading into a new adventure, and this time, it looks like the journey is going to be a little more relaxing, a little more stylish, and potentially much more chaotic.

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