Version 4.6 "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise" arrives September 28 with Pearl

HoYoverse has officially announced Version 4.6 "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise". It goes live on September 28, 2026 on PC, PS5, iOS and Android, right after Version 4.5 ends at 06:00 (UTC+8) — which is still September 27 in Europe and the Americas (22:00 UTC).

Everything below comes from official announcements and trailers. Final values may still change at launch.

Story

The story picks up right after the events of Version 4.5 in Astropolis. The Trailblazer investigates the Life Sciences Institute alongside Pearl and Nihilux to uncover a conspiracy to "weaponize the husk". Madam Yabuli, head of the IPC's Technology Department, is pushing the plan forward even if it costs every life in Planarcadia, and she is suspected of ties to a mysterious faction linked to the Voracity.

New character: Pearl

Pearl is a new 5★ Ice character on the Path of Elation. From what was officially shown:

• she consumes Certified Banger to reduce the damage her allies take;
• she can enter a Deep Learning state to learn a designated teammate's combat data and gain a matching Enhanced ATK, which deals extra damage if that teammate follows the Path of Elation;
• in a full Elation team, that teammate also gets an extra turn, along with Punchline and Certified Banger.

Her signature Light Cone is Colors for Tomorrow. Pearl was introduced in the Keeping Up With Star Rail — Pearl: Deep Learning in Progress video (September 22).

Warps

• Pearl and Colors for Tomorrow are the headline rate-ups of the version.
• First half: rerun of Evanescia (5★ Elation, Physical).
• Second half: rerun of Mortenax Blade (5★ Nihility, Fire).

If you are saving, this is a good time to plan ahead: Evanescia is one of the strongest damage dealers right now, and Mortenax Blade is one of the best amplifiers.

Events and features

• Love, Ghosts & Robots: help Skott run his mechatron workshop.
• Interastral Peace Gala: One Take: a combat event framed as a reality show.
• Astral Imagea: a brand-new feature. Collect Astral Imageas that tag along on your adventures, and team up with friends in the Astral Slammers Squad! co-op challenge.
• New outfits: Warm Cotton Skies for Hyacine and Lunar Blossoming for Evanescia.

Collaborations

• Razer: a Silver Wolf LV.999 line of gaming gear (chair, keyboard, mouse, headset) is launching worldwide.
• Zenless Zone Zero: the crossover teased in Version 4.5 now has a date. Ellen and Astra Yao will join the Trailblaze in Version 4.8. Their kits have not been revealed yet.

Also note that the free Gilgamesh or Archer from the Fate Contract: Renewal login event can be claimed until the end of Version 4.6. Don't forget it if you haven't picked yours yet.