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Geek Culture
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
3-Day HoYoFest Singapore 2025 Debuts Artist Alley, Tickets All Sold Out
It wasn't just too long ago that MiHoYo (otherwise known as HoYoverse) broke into the international stage with Genshin Impact , and now, the Chinese company commands a strong presence in the gaming scene. The popularity certainly shows in the strong turnouts for their real-life events — from brand collaborations and pop-up initiatives to orchestra performances, the company is no stranger to generating hype. HoYoFest, established as a yearly celebration of all things HoYoverse, continues to be a tradition for fans. Making a return to Singapore, HoYoFest 2025 welcomes Genshin Impact , Honkai Impact 3rd , Honkai: Star Rail , and Zenless Zone Zero into Hall 406CXD of Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre, with ticket prices starting from S$14. The expanded space means more on-ground activities and fun, but there's another reason for the excitement: fan art. Not only will this year's edition debut its Artist Alley, it also marks the first time a gaming company is allowing fan-created merchandise to be sold at its own event in Southeast Asia. A new stage segment has been included in the programme lineup as well, featuring interactive experiences with the audience and offering cosplayers, performers, and even fan artists to showcase their talents on the stage. As it stands, these new additions have proven to be a hit among the community, with tickets for all three days (25 to 27 July), selling out on the event's opening day. While online sales will no longer be available, fans can try their luck at securing tickets on-site. For those unable to attend HoYoFest 2025 in person, here are some highlights from the first day, starting with the Artist Alley. Arguably the biggest draw on the showfloor, the Artist Alley threatened to empty wallets with a generous merchandise selection, including standard fare such as keychains, acrylic stands, and prints, alongside handicrafts like crochet products and character-themed cups. Barely a few hours in, and 'sold out' signs were already placed on several booths, with the crowd growing larger as time passed, making navigation more difficult and congested. The official merchandise area enjoyed its fair share of enthusiasm, too. Even as doors opened at 11am (and at 10am for Fast Pass holders), exclusive offerings were quickly snapped up, leaving little to no stock behind on the shelves. During the 11am to 12pm timeslot, only about five blind packs comprising past HoYoFest exclusives remained, out of the full range listed below: Genshin Impact Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11) Tote Bag with Badge Series (S$25) Honkai Impact 3 Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11) Chibi Mouse Pad (S$18) Chibi Keychain Blind Bag (S$6.50, random design) Chibi Mouse Pad (S$18) Badge Series (S$12) Honkai: Star Rail Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11) Acrylic Puzzle-shaped Magnet Fullset (S$55) Acrylic Puzzle-shaped Magnet Blind Bag (S$11) Zenless Zone Zero Chibi Acrylic Standee (S$11) Chibi Acrylic Keychain (S$12) For non-exclusive goods, the available options run from soft toys and badges to character stands and even pillows. Merchandise specific to each title is also up for grabs – the Zenless Zone Zero lineup, for instance, features finger skateboard charms and Bangoo plush massage hammers, while tissue box holders in the shape of Ruan Mei's cat cakes are part of the Honkai: Star Rail selection. Score a free postcard by purchasing one or more items at the official store, plus an additional paper bag when a minimum of S$20 is spent. Over to the stage area, various activities are set to take place at allocated time slots. Genshin Impact , Honkai: Star Rail , and Zenless Zone Zero will have their own dedicated showcases, joining an open dance floor, a cosplayer gathering, open-stage performances, and more on the roster. As with previous years, hands-on booths allow attendees to experience HoYoverse games on different platforms, including the Apple Vision Pro headset. Carrying over from last year, the stamp rally invites fans to collect all five stamps and redeem a free HoYoFest-themed instant photo at the photo booth. Only one stamp can be earned from completing activities in a zone themed after Genshin Impact , Honkai: Star Rail , Genshin Impact , Honkai Impact 3rd , or Zenless Zone Zero , and the HoYoverse Experience Zone. Here's a look at the full haul obtained for finishing all challenges: Natlan is front and centre of the Genshin Impact booth, where Baby Saurians await to be knocked down in three attempts. Completing the challenge earns participants Baby Saurian hairclips (random design), one of the three offline rewards available – the hologram ticket with in-game rewards is given by showing their game UID, while posting a photo with any booth elements on any social media platform grants a character photo card. In celebration of the latest Version 3.4 release, Honkai: Star Rail puts Phainon and Amphoreus into focus. Show your game UID to the on-site staff via the in-game client or HoYoLab and receive a holographic ticket, complete daily active missions to earn a postcard, and follow the official social channels and share game-related posts to score a character card. Stealing hearts with its adorable demeanour, the Amillion Bangboo stands alongside both old and newer Zenless Zone Zero faces, from Nicole and Ellen Joe to Yi Xuan and Yuzuha (who also gets her own standee). Three challenges lay in wait here – take photos featuring booth elements and share them on social media to receive a lenticular card blind bag, show your UID to on-site staff for a holographic ticket, and follow the official Facebook account to redeem a random photocard bookmark. As a bonus, those who cosplay as a Zenless Zone Zero character and share on social media will walk away with a Bangboo headband. A Erdős Helia cutout greets Captains at the Honkai Impact 3rd installation, where they have to show their game UID to claim an event-exclusive laser ticket, personalise their share image on the HoYoFest website and share it on social media for Coins and an in-game keychain, and share photos of booth elements on social media for a surprise. HoYoFest 2025 takes place from 25 to 27 July at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 406CXD. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. HoYoFest 2025 HoYoverse Singapore
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
6 best teams for Pure Fiction mode in Honkai Star Rail 3.4
Image via miHoYo The 3.4 Pure Fiction mode in Honkai Star Rail is all about speed, synergy, and stacking DoTs. With 'Surging Grit' mechanics rewarding high-frequency damage and DoT stacking, you need carefully crafted squads to crush waves, shred bosses, and farm those 800 Stellar Jades with ease. Here's a crisp breakdown of the best teams for each Pure Fiction node in version 3.4. What's the 3.4 Pure Fiction Gimmick? DoT is king: You stack Grit by dealing DoT. At 100 Grit, you trigger Surging Grit, massively boosting your team's damage potential. Buffs to focus on: Exposition (Ignore 20% RES, DoT stacking = more DoT damage) Misplacement (DoT = more stacks = more enemy damage taken) Intertextuality (Boosts Skill DMG + extra if Wind Shear is active) E1S1 Blade x Hyacine & E0S1 Phainon Sustainless | Pure Fiction Floor 4 3 Stars Honkai: Star Rail 3.4 Best Node 1 Teams (Three Act Structure IV) 1. Acheron | Jiaoqiu | Black Swan | Hyacine Core Idea : Pure DoT domination. Acheron rapidly builds up Grit with ult spam. Jiaoqiu and Black Swan apply AoE debuffs. Hyacine supports uptime and damage. Buff to use : Misplacement 2. Castorice | Ruan Mei | Tribbie | Trailblazer (Remembrance) Core Idea : Castorice as the Quantum hypercarry. With high enemy Quantum weakness, Castorice shines. Ruan and Tribbie buff skill damage. Trailblazer slows enemies and gives more turns. Buff to use : Intertextuality 3. Aglaea | Sunday | Robin | Gallagher Core Idea : Speed-tuned Lightning nuke. Aglaea + Sunday loop her turns. Robin gives ATK and energy boosts. Gallagher heals and debuffs. Buff to use : Misplacement or Intertextuality Best Node 2 Teams 1. Kafka | Black Swan | Ruan Mei | Huohuo Core Idea : Dual DoT storm. Kafka triggers DoT reactions; Black Swan stacks debuffs. Ruan boosts all skill/DoT damage. Huohuo sustains and buffs. Buff to use : Exposition 2. Phainon | Sunday | Bronya | Sparkle Core Idea : Physical hypercarry rush. Phainon self-heals and nukes. Bronya and Sunday advance his actions. Sparkle or Tingyun maintain energy. Buff to use : Misplacement 3. Saber | Sunday | Tribbie | Robin Core Idea: Free-to-play friendly wind-clear team. Saber takes advantage of Wind Shear synergy. Sunday lets her loop faster. Tribbie and Robin increase offensive pressure. Buff to use : Intertextuality NEW Pure Fiction 4 | E0S1 Phainon Sustainless & E0S1 Castorice True DMG | Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Final Tips Before You Jump In Always adjust your buffs to match your team's playstyle . DoT teams need Exposition or Misplacement , while skill-based burst teams benefit from Intertextuality . Speed tuning is key. Especially with Sunday, Bronya, and Tribbie in play—ensure your carries act immediately after support for max damage uptime. Don't hesitate to mix and match replacements like Gallagher, Luocha, or Sparkle if your roster isn't fully stacked. Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Pure Fiction is all about DoT stacking and smart buff usage. Make sure to tailor your team around elemental weaknesses, stack Grit efficiently, and don't underestimate support speed tuning. Whether you're running Acheron to shred stacks or abusing Aglaea's multi-turn rampage, these teams are your best bet for a clean 800-Jade sweep. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Honkai Star Rail 3.5 livestream schedule and what to expect
Image via:HoYoverse Currently, with the second phase of version 3.4 in progress for Honkai Star Rail, the whole world of Trailblazer has quickly switched its interest to the 'what next.' The highly anticipated version 3.5 livestream is just around the corner; if HoYoverse plays its old game, then August 1, 2025, should be the date of broadcast. This upcoming broadcast will definitely not be any promotional video. It is rather huge, a special program offering an early glimpse of what they have planned for the next patch. For new characters and limited-time events, let's get into what we know (and guess about) the Honkai Star Rail 3.5 livestream. Livestream Timely Expectation With an unwavering commitment to its fast-paced updates, HoYoverse has so far maintained great consistency, running livestreams usually about a week prior to the patch release. Now, with phase two of 3.4 having just kicked in, fans can reasonably expect to see the 3.5 stream drop on August 1 in line with the pre-patch reveal schedule of the company. Although the very time of the livestream is yet to be officially confirmed, the previous records considered were: 7:30 PM CST (China Standard Time) 1:30 PM CEST (Central European Summer Time) NEW UPDATE! EVERYTHING IN PATCH 3.5 FULL LEAKED | Banners, Free Pulls, Rewards - Honkai: Star Rail New Characters: Hysilens and Cerydra Take the Spotlight Arguably, the biggest pull toward 3.5 iteration is the arrival of two dearly awaited 5-star characters-Hysilens and Cerydra. While HoYoverse is still keeping their full kits locked away, some speculations and product teases have suggested the following: Hysilens could be fun to play as a support-DPS combo, perhaps abusing high-speed mechanics or elemental debuffs. Cerydra looks to be a huge AoE damage dealer with some crowd control, leading to comparisons with Kafka from earlier leaks. The livestream may feature: Skill showcases + animation Voice actor reveals + lore tidbits Team synergy, builds, etc Beyond Characters: What Else to Expect In its formative stages, 3.5 promises to be something much bigger than a mere banner refresh. Going by HoYoverse's typical rolling content pattern, the livestream is likely to include: Official Trailer : A cinematic introduction that will provide a glimpse into the narrative and themes of 3.5, with possible hints at a major conflict or a newly unlocked region. New Trailblaze Mission : Continues the main storyline, probably with new characters and bosses. HSR 3.5 CONFIRMED BANNERS ROADMAP + RERUNS | Honkai Star Rail, Cerydra, Cerydra HSR, Hysilens HSR Events Preview: Limited-time Fallout. In-game mini-games. Exclusive 4 stars and their Light Cones. The usual three livestream codes will drop Stellar Jades, credits, and ascension materials. For long-time players and newbies alike, 3.5 might mark the start of an entirely new narrative arc or region expansion. With the back-to-back release of highly sought-after characters, HoYoverse seems to be upping their content creation against other major gacha titles. To sum it up, the livestream is going to lay out the roadmap for where the game heads next. And, with the hype around Hysilens and Cerydra quickly building, all eyes are now on August 1. Stay tuned, Trailblazers. The stars are aligning. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
3 best characters for Era Engraved by Golden Blood in Honkai Star Rail
(Image via miHoYo) Era Engraved by Golden Blood is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Harmony Path Light Cones in Honkai Star Rail, especially with its leaked stats and synergy. With a jaw-dropping ATK boost and a Skill Point recovery mechanic, this 5-star gear seems tailor-made for support units that focus on single-target buffs. Based on current leaks, here are the best characters expected to make full use of it. 3 best characters for Era Engraved by Golden Blood in Honkai Star Rail According to leaks, Era Engraved by Golden Blood offers: +64% ATK boost to the wearer Skill Point recovery after using an Ultimate Buffed ally gains +54% Skill DMG for 3 turns when targeted by the wearer's Skill This Light Cone is all about sustaining Skill Points while enhancing ally damage output, making it perfect for Harmony characters who rely on their Skill to support. Here are the 3 best characters for Era Engraved by Golden Blood in Honkai Star Rail: 1. Cerydra – The Obvious Best Fit This Light Cone practically screams Cerydra. She's reportedly getting it as her signature weapon, and her kit is designed to amplify allies via ATK-based scaling. The 64% ATK buff? Exactly what she needs. The Skill Point recovery? Even better, considering her reliance on Ultimates to keep the momentum going. With Cerydra's Skill already targeting allies for buffs, Era Engraved by Golden Blood fits seamlessly into her gameplay loop. 2. Bronya – SP-Positive and Deadly Even though she already has several viable Light Cones, Bronya benefits greatly from this one. She often faces SP management issues, so the recovery mechanic post-Ultimate gives her more breathing room. Plus, the 54% Skill DMG boost to her buffed ally lasts three turns, which is just enough for most DPS units to unload their full kit. 3. Tingyun – Budget Pick, Big Gains Don't let her 4-star status fool you. Tingyun becomes an absolute monster support unit with this gear. Her Skill already gives a potent ATK boost to a single ally. Add 64% ATK to herself and 54% Skill DMG to her target, and suddenly even lower-budget teams feel meta-level strong. If the leaks hold true, Era Engraved by Golden Blood isn't just Cerydra's signature; it's a top-tier Harmony Light Cone that can redefine support meta. Whether you're stacking synergy with Cerydra or unlocking hidden potential in Bronya or Tingyun, this gear will be worth the pull. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Zenless Zone Zero 2.1 release date and when you can grab its new characters
Zenless Zone Zero is getting another major update soon, with more content than ever before – here's everything we know about the 2.1 update and when you can expect it to be released Players of Zenless Zone Zero are in for a treat with the upcoming 2.1 update, which promises a wealth of new characters, locations and battles. Zenless Zone Zero seems to be on a roll with updates, as hot on the heels of the release of update 2.0 and the Xbox edition, there's even more content on the horizon. The forthcoming update, dubbed 'The Impending Crash of Waves', leans into classic anime beach episode tropes and offers an adventure set along the seaside, complete with battles on promenades and piers. The update will also herald the introduction of the Spook Shack faction and new agents Ukinami Yuzuha and Alice Thymefield. If you didn't get enough beach time with the arrival of Death Stranding 2, this free update should satisfy your craving. Despite the short intervals between updates, Zenless Zone Zero has maintained an impressive level of quality, and this seaside adventure is expected to be no different. This is a welcome boost for the game, especially after its recent transition into a bold new era. HoYoverse fans have been kept busy with the new free Honkai Star Rail character Archer, a five-star fighter. But there's more to look forward to, as the new update is just around the corner, promising plenty to keep players engaged. So when exactly can we expect it? Here's what you need to know about the Zenless Zone Zero update 2.1 release date. Zenless Zone Zero update 2.1 release date The release date for the Zenless Zone Zero update 2.1 has been set for Wednesday, July 16 at around 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT / 8pm BST. This date has been confirmed by HoYoverse, and the launch time is an estimation based on recent downtime periods like with the 2.0 update – and though Zenless Zone Zero update 1.7 came an hour earlier than this, it's a fair presumption to make that the game has found a new favourite release time since it stepped into the game's new era. An official time will be confirmed closer to the date on Zenless Zone Zero's social channels. The excitement for Zenless Zone Zero seems to keep building, and with so much content for players to dive into, there's no doubt that they'll be sticking around in New Eridu for some time. We'll see you on the promenade, hopefully not in your way.
