Release Date, Livestream Codes, New Characters, Banners, & More

Developer HoYoverse has officially unveiled the Version 4.5 update for Honkai: Star Rail, including its release date, details about the new playable characters, the banner structure, the livestream codes, and more. The popular turn-based RPG is in the final stretch of Version 4.4, a patch that extends the Planarcadia story arc and introduced what became one of the best characters in the game, Himeko Nova. There are three new characters in Honkai: Star Rail 4.4, but Himeko Nova will leave the banners in less than two weeks.

However, players will still be able to pull for the new Fate collab characters in Honkai: Star Rail, Rin Tohsaka and Gilgamesh, in upcoming patches, as they will not leave the banner rotation so soon. Even so, the game is gearing up for the release of Version 4.5, which may be a respite from the conclusion of the Planarcadia arc this year, moving ever closer to the turn-based RPG’s next year of content. There are still a few more patches to go through, but Version 4.5 will be an important one in terms of story development.

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 – Release Date

Luckily, you won’t have to wait much longer to play through it. As was announced by the developer following the respective livestream, Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 should arrive on August 26 across all platforms on which the game is available. Depending on your region, you may be able to play it on August 25 at night due to time zone differences. Effectively, the RPG enters its maintenance period on August 25 in the afternoon.

The formal announcement of the release date for Version 4.5 makes it so that it becomes unlikely to be postponed in any way. Usually, when a patch is set for a delay, HoYoverse pushes back the livestream from when it would regularly occur. Since the livestream is done and the release date has been announced, you can expect the RPG to continue following its regular six-week schedule between patches. At this point in time, HoYoverse has been revealing beforehand whether a patch will last longer (or less) than expected.

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 Livestream Codes

During the update’s livestream, the developer also dropped a few livestream codes for players to redeem. These limited-time codes provide in-game goodies, such as Character EXP Materials. However, most importantly, they also provide 100 free Stellar Jade each. With three codes, you can grab a total of 300 free Stellar Jade in Honkai: Star Rail by redeeming these codes.

The table below lists all three Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 livestream codes and their respective rewards:

These livestream codes are limited and must be redeemed before they expire on August 15 at 7:59 ET, lest you lose out on their rewards. To do so, you can access the official Honkai: Star Rail website, log in, and then redeem each code individually. You can also do this in-game by clicking on the ellipsis button on the main menu and selecting the Redemption Code feature. Regardless of the method you use, you’ll then need to claim the items from your in-game mailbox to use them.

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 – New Characters & Banners

One of the main attractions during the livestream was the official presentation centered around the two new playable characters arriving in Version 4.5. One of the new units is called Robin – Summeretto, which is effectively a new version of Robin in Honkai: Star Rail. Robin – Summeretto is a 5-star Wind character on the Path of the Remembrance. With her Skill, this character can summon her memosprite. With her Ultimate, she can advance the action of a chosen ally and restore a portion of their Energy.

On top of that, Robin – Summeretto can assign them as a Special Guest. When the Special Guest and their summon attack, they grant her Vibes points. Depending on how many Vibes points she has, Robin – Summeretto can summon a different type of memosprite. This new character’s job will be advancing actions, which is still a powerful mechanic in the RPG, as well as helping the DPS ignore a portion of the enemy’s DEF for increased damage output.

The other new character is Aventurine – Waveflair, which is also a new version of Aventurine in Honkai: Star Rail. Aventurine – Waveflair is a 5-star Quantum character following the Path of the Elation. This character will deal damage to gather both Punchline and Fervor. Punchline is a core Elation ability, but Fervor is his exclusive mechanic, which interacts with Punchline.

When he obtains a certain amount of Fervor, Aventurine – Waveflair can use a powerful AoE Elation Skill, which scales with his Punchline count. His role will be to deal huge blows to enemies with his abilities, acting as a main DPS in the team. As such, Aventurine – Waveflair will make for an optimal candidate for the best DPS in Yao Guang’s team comps in Honkai: Star Rail.

HoYoverse also revealed the banner structure for Version 4.5.

Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 – Story Updates, Events, & More

The next big update to the story was also revealed during the Version 4.5 livestream. Following the mind-bending revelations and the Lord Ravager encounter in Version 4.4, the members of the Astral Express will head on over to the resort destination of Astropolis, controlled by the IPC. This is where the summer theme versions of Robin and Aventurine will show up.

On top of the story updates that will be featured in the patch, the update will be centered mostly around events, which will keep you occupied throughout the six-week period. Even though we’re saying goodbye to Planarcadia, there’s still a lot in store for Honkai: Star Rail.

Systems

Released

April 26, 2023

ESRB

Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact

Developer(s)

HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)

Publisher(s)

HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)

Engine

Unity