HoYoverse has announced that Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0, titled “No Aha at Full Moon,” will launch globally on February 13 on PlayStation. It promises a brand-new world, fresh characters, major gameplay systems, and limited-time rewards to PlayStation players and other platforms.
The update introduces Planarcadia, a vibrant entertainment-driven civilisation tied to the Aeon of Elation, and marks the start of a year-long story arc centred on chaos, comedy, and cosmic gamesmanship.
According to Chengnan An, Lead Game Designer of Honkai: Star Rail, “This vibrant world, renowned for its entertainment culture, is currently celebrating the unique Phantasmoon Games. Not only is Planarcadia Himeko’s homeland, but it’s also where the Astral Express sets sail once again.”
An also noted that the upcoming story “The Elation” will span an entire year, and its stage won’t be limited to Planarcadia, later, the IPC’s stronghold, Astropolis, will also make its debut.
Emmanuel Umahi
A new world: Planarcadia and the Phantasmoon Games
Planarcadia is described as a dazzling metropolis where conflicts are settled through games rather than war. The Express Crew arrives in Duomension City, a neon-lit hub filled with strange creatures called imagenae—beings born from imagination and art—and portals known as Interplanar Jump, which shift players into stylised dimensions with new movement mechanics like double-jumping and water-walking.
At the centre of the update is the Phantasmoon Games, a high-stakes competition rumoured to have been created by the Aeon Aha. Only eight participants can enter, and the winner earns a direct audience with Aha — along with one minute of their divine authority. Several major factions, including the Stellaron Hunters and IPC, are already involved, hinting at deeper conspiracies beneath the Arcadia’s playful surface.
New combat system: Aha Instants and Elation mechanics
Version 4.0 rolls out with a new combat mechanic called Aha Instants, triggered by accumulating Punchlines during battle. When activated, Aha briefly takes control of the flow of combat, allowing Elation Path characters to unleash chained abilities with amplified effects.
After each Aha Instant, Elation characters gain Certified Banger buffs, adding strategic layers to team composition and resource management while pushing combat toward faster, more chaotic encounters.
New characters: Yao Guang and Sparxie
Two new 5-star characters headline the update. Yao Guang, a physical character on the Path of Elation, is a strategic advisor from the Xianzhou Alliance who manipulates battlefield outcomes using Weal and Woe mechanics. Her kit boosts Elation damage, restores Skill Points, and can even trigger extra Aha Instants through her Ultimate.
Joining her is Sparxie, a mysterious streamer-inspired Elation character who fights through livestream-style mechanics, gifting buffs and triggering chaotic damage bursts through skill point interactions. Both characters are designed to fully leverage the new Punchline and Aha Instant systems.
In addition, the limited characters Black Swan, Evernight, and Hysilens will headline the first-half Warp banners, while Sparkle, Cerydra, and Rappa appear in the second half. Black Swan and Sparkle will also receive buffs in this update.
New events and gameplay improvements
Version 4.0 marks the arrival of several new activities, including Cosmicon Collective, a card-based battle event; Furbobo Weekly, which puts players in the role of a magazine editor-in-chief; and an expanded Currency Wars mode with new mechanics and characters. The Divergent Universe also receives fresh content.
Quality-of-life updates arrive as well, with assignments no longer tied to fixed timers or characters, alongside optimisations to the relic and team lineup systems for smoother progression.
Free rewards and launch bonuses
Players who log in after the update will receive 20 free Warps, a new outfit for Ruan Mei, and a free 5-star character of their choice. The update also includes a Weal Sign event offering up to 1,600 Stellar Jades, plus new Trailblazer outfits and cosmetic items.
Takeaway
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 looks set to be one of the game’s biggest updates yet, introducing a bold new world, a fresh combat system, and high-impact characters while rewarding players generously at launch. With Planarcadia and the Phantasmoon Games kicking off a year-long narrative arc, February 13 marks a major turning point for the game’s story and gameplay direction.
Emmanuel Umahi
