Star Rail takes a summer vacation
HoYoverse is launching Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5, "To Roll the Stars in Astropolis," on August 26 for Asia and EU servers — a day after the NA server on August 25.
The setting this time is Astropolis, a key Interastral Peace Corporation (IPC) stronghold. The Trailblazer heads there to seek aid for the disaster-stricken paradise of Planarcadia, threatened by "the Devourers," and along the way gets a lighter epilogue arc: a summer vacation alongside Robin and Aventurine. The version pairs a heavier main story with a breezy seasonal side.
Version 4.5 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.5 "To Roll the Stars in Astropolis" |
| Launch | Aug 25 (NA) / Aug 26 (Asia, EU) |
| Duration | ~5 weeks — shorter than the usual 6 |
| Main region | Astropolis (IPC stronghold) |
| New 5-stars | Robin - Summeretto (Phase 1) / Aventurine - Waveflair (Phase 2) |
| Convenience | Story fast-forward playback, new "Digital Emoji" headwear |
Notably, this version runs about five weeks instead of the standard six, which tightens the banner schedule considerably.
New 5-stars: Robin - Summeretto and Aventurine - Waveflair
Both featured 5-stars are summer swimsuit alternates of existing fan favorites.
Robin - Summeretto headlines Phase 1 from August 26. A support unit, she buffs allies through a "stage heat" gauge that rises with teammate actions, and helps a designated ally take immediate action and recover energy. Given how long the original Robin has anchored top-tier party buffing, all eyes are on whether the Summeretto version can match or complement her. Hyacine reruns alongside her in Phase 1.
Aventurine - Waveflair arrives in Phase 2 from September 12. He attacks using beach volleyball and surfing, triggering a Nihility skill that deals damage to all enemies scaled by an "ardor" value. Where the original Aventurine was a defensive shielder, the Waveflair version leans toward area damage.
| Phase | Featured 5-star | Window (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Robin - Summeretto (+ Hyacine rerun) | Aug 26 – Sep 12 |
| Phase 2 | Aventurine - Waveflair (+ Ashveil) | Sep 12 – Sep 30 |
Convenience: story fast-forward
The standout system change in 4.5 is a story fast-forward feature. Players can freely control playback speed during story scenes, easing the grind for anyone who replays or skims dialogue. Given how text- and cutscene-heavy HoYoverse games are, handing players direct control over narrative pacing is a real quality-of-life win.
A new Trailblazer cosmetic, the "Digital Emoji" headwear, is also added, giving character customization a small boost.
The MOONDROP collaboration
Timed to the 4.5 update, HoYoverse teased a collaboration with audio brand MOONDROP. It promises "Sparky"-themed collab products along with online and offline events rolling out globally over time. Reaching beyond in-game events into audio hardware fits HoYoverse's recent pattern of extending its IP fandom into physical merchandise.
Community reaction
Reception to the two summer alternates has been broadly positive. Robin in particular has long sat at the top of the buffer tier list, so the big question is whether her summer version can replace or supplement the original. That said, some cynicism persists — the sense that this is, ultimately, swimsuit-skin monetization of popular characters.
The shortened five-week version has drawn concern that tighter banner spacing will strain free-to-play and low-spender resource management. The fast-forward feature, by contrast, is a clear crowd-pleaser, with players who found the long dialogue and cutscenes tedious calling it the most welcome change.
GamePeak takeaway
| Point | Summary |
|---|---|
| Update | 4.5 "To Roll the Stars in Astropolis," Aug 26 (Asia) |
| Setting | Astropolis — IPC stronghold, summer theme |
| New units | Robin - Summeretto (P1), Aventurine - Waveflair (P2) |
| System | Story fast-forward, new cosmetic |
| Collab | MOONDROP audio partnership |
Version 4.5 balances a weighty main arc with a light summer side, layering in two popular characters' seasonal forms, quality-of-life upgrades, and a hardware collab. HoYoverse has cast a wide net for the summer peak season. If you're pulling, plan your resources ahead — the five-week window is short.
Sources:
- ▶Notebookcheck, "Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.5 launches August 26 with Astropolis update": https://www.notebookcheck.net/Honkai-Star-Rail-Version-4-5-launches-August-26-with-Astropolis-update.1369404.0.html
- ▶Game8, "Honkai: Star Rail 4.5 Banners and Release Date": https://game8.co/games/Honkai-Star-Rail/archives/607037
- ▶ScreenRant, "Honkai Star Rail 4.5 Update": https://screenrant.com/honkai-star-rail-45-release-codes-characters-banners/
- ▶Sportskeeda, "Honkai Star Rail 4.5 livestream summary": https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/honkai-star-rail-4-5-livestream-summary-release-date-banners-redeem-codes-everything-new