What To Expect From The Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 Livestream

The upcoming Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 update is highly anticipated, and with it comes a special livestream to showcase all the new content. Get ready for new characters, a new planet, and a brand new playable Path.

I’ve been following the news closely, and while an official announcement from HoYoverse is still pending, the community has pieced together a likely date for the Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 livestream. Based on the extended duration of the current Version 3.8, which was pushed from six to eight weeks, the livestream is expected to happen around two weeks before the new version's release. This points to a likely date of Friday, January 30th, though a Saturday, January 31st stream is also possible. The exact timing will be confirmed on the official Honk ai: Star Rail social media channels.

• Date: Likely January 30, 2026
• Time: To be announced
• What's new: New characters, a new planet called Planarcadia, and the new "Elation" Path

The Version 4.0 update itself is expected to launch around February 13th or 14th, 2026. This delay of a couple of weeks from the usual schedule is reportedly to allow for extra polishing of the new content.

One of the biggest reveals during the livestream will undoubtedly be the new playable characters. HoYoverse has already drip-marketed two new 5-star characters: Sparxie and Yao Guang. Sparxie is a Fire character treading the Path of the Elation, a new addition to the game's playable Paths. Leaks suggest she’s a damage dealer whose abilities are enhanced by an "Elation" value and buff stacks. Yao Guang is a Physical character also on the Path of the Elation, and appears to be a support unit designed to buff other Elation characters. Her kit seems to revolve around increasing allies' Elation scores and providing them with damage penetration. We'll get a full breakdown of their abilities and how they synergize during the livestream.

The banner structure for 4.0 is also a hot topic. Alongside the new characters, we're expecting reruns. Given that Sparkle and Black Swan are receiving buffs, it’s highly probable they will be featured in the upcoming banners. While the exact order is unknown, leaks suggest the first half might feature Hysilens, Sparkle, and Black Swan, with Cerydra, Feixiao, and Yunli in the second half.

A significant portion of the livestream will be dedicated to the new destination for the Astral Express: Planarcadia. This is expected to be a major new location, not just a side area. Early rumors pointed to a cyberpunk city with Japanese influences, but it seems there may have been some changes, which could have contributed to the update's delay. The livestream will likely offer our first official look at Duomension City and other areas within Planarcadia, and hopefully shed some light on the story that will unfold there. We can also expect to see more of other recently revealed characters like Ashveil, Nihilux, and Evanescia, who are expected to play a role in the Planarcadia narrative.

Finally, the livestream will officially introduce the Path of the Elation as a playable Path. Previously just a part of the game's lore, we'll now see characters wielding its power. The core mechanic seems to revolve around an "Elation" stat that can be increased for various effects, primarily boosting damage output. I'm looking forward to seeing how this new Path changes up team compositions and strategies. Of course, the livestream will also likely cover the various events and freebies that will be available with the launch of Honkai: Star Rail 4.0.