Zenless Zone Zero: Factions and Power Struggles in New Eridu

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

HoYoverse's latest blockbuster, the urban fantasy action RPG Zenless Zone Zero, has officially launched, plunging players into the stylish, post-apocalyptic metropolis of New Eridu. While early speculation focused on potential future updates, the game's launch version already delivers a rich narrative tapestry woven from the competing interests and clandestine operations of the city's powerful factions. This isn't a story for a future patch; the political intrigue is the core of the experience from the moment you step into the shoes of a Proxy.

Welcome to New Eridu, the last bastion of urban civilization. The world has been ravaged by supernatural disasters known as Hollows—reality-warping dimensions teeming with dangerous creatures called the Ethereal. Within the city's fortified walls, various organizations vie for influence, resources, and control, creating a complex and often volatile political landscape. Players navigate this world as a Proxy, a specialized professional who guides teams of combat specialists, known as Agents, through the treacherous depths of the Hollows. Your choices and commissions will embroil you directly in the city's ongoing power struggles.

Let's break down the key players shaping the future of New Eridu.

The Major Factions and Their Agendas

Gentle House (Cunning Hares): The Independent Operators

Operating out of a small video store, the Cunning Hares are the quintessential odd-job agency and the player's primary affiliation. Led by the shrewd Nicole Demara, this small but highly effective group includes the enigmatic Anby Demara and the cheerful cyborg Billy Kid. They take on any commission that pays, from simple delivery runs to dangerous Hollow expeditions, often putting them in the crosshairs of the city's larger, more dogmatic factions. Their independence is their greatest strength and their biggest vulnerability in a city defined by powerful alliances.

Victoria Housekeeping Co.: Corporate Power with a Polished Veneer

On the surface, Victoria Housekeeping is New Eridu's most prestigious cleaning and domestic service provider. In reality, they are a highly disciplined and formidable force specializing in security and "problem-solving" for the city's elite. Led by the wolf-like gentleman Von Lycaon, its agents like Corin Wickes and Ellen Joe move with ruthless efficiency. Their influence extends deep into the corporate and political spheres, making them a powerful, if inscrutable, force in New Eridu's daily life. They represent the sanitized, corporate-controlled face of power in the city.

Belobog Heavy Industries: The Engine of the City

As the industrial backbone of New Eridu, Belobog Heavy Industries is responsible for the construction, engineering, and raw power that keeps the city running. They are rugged, direct, and immensely powerful. Led by their imposing chairman, Anton Ivanov, agents like Ben Bigger and Koleda Belobog embody the faction's strength-first philosophy. Belobog's interests often clash with corporate regulations and public safety protocols, creating friction with other city entities as they prioritize progress and reconstruction above all else.

Hollow Special Operations Section 6 & The Obols Squad: The Shadow Government

Section 6 is the mysterious and powerful intelligence division of New Eridu's government, tasked with managing the Hollow crisis at the highest level. They operate from the shadows, and their true goals are known to only a select few. The Obols Squad, featuring the elite soldier known only as Soldier 11, serves as one of their public-facing enforcement arms. This faction represents the deep state of New Eridu, a web of secrets and clandestine operations where the city's darkest truths are managed and contained. Interacting with them means stepping into a world where information is the most valuable currency.

New Eridu Public Security (NEPS): The Law on the Streets

Tasked with maintaining order, the New Eridu Public Security department and its special units are the most visible authority in the city. Officers like Zhu Yuan and the members of the elite Criminal Investigation Special Response Team (C.I.S.R.T.), such as Hoshimi Miyabi, are on the front lines, dealing with everything from petty crime to Ethereal containment breaches. NEPS must balance the letter of the law with the often-conflicting agendas of the city's other factions, placing them in a constant state of political tension as they strive to protect the citizens.

A World Built on Conflict

Zenless Zone Zero masterfully integrates its narrative of factional conflict directly into the gameplay. The commissions players accept as a Proxy are not random missions; they are requests from these competing groups. One day you might be helping Belobog secure a construction site inside a Hollow, and the next you could be escorting a Victoria Housekeeping client through a dangerous district.

This system creates a tangible sense of a living city, where your actions have consequences and help shape your understanding of each faction's motivations. The game’s story isn't just told through cutscenes; it's experienced through the daily grind of a Proxy trying to make a living in a city teeming with ambition, secrets, and danger. The power struggles of New Eridu are the heart of Zenless Zone Zero, providing a rich, complex world that promises to grow even more intricate with every new chapter.