History is being made in the Astral Express! HoYoverse just announced that Honkai Star Rail’s Version 3.8 “Memories are the Prelude to Dreams” will run for an unprecedented eight weeks – breaking the game’s established six-week update cycle and pushing Version 4.0 back by two weeks. Here’s everything you need to know about this extended journey through Penacony!
Table of Contents
Honkai Star Rail Version 3.8 Schedule Breakdown
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 17, 2025 |
| End Date | February 13, 2026 (estimated) |
| Total Duration | 8 weeks (56 days) |
| Banner Phases | 3 phases (first time ever!) |
| New Characters | The Dahlia (5★ Fire Nihility) |
| Version 4.0 Delay | Pushed back by 2 weeks |
Three-Phase Banner Lineup: Who’s Coming?
For the first time in Honkai Star Rail history, players will experience three distinct banner phases within a single update!
Phase 1 (Dec 17 – Jan 7):
- The Dahlia (NEW 5★ Fire Nihility)
- Firefly (Rerun)
- 4-Stars: Gallagher, Luka, March 7th
Phase 2 (Jan 7 – Jan 28):
- Fugue (Rerun)
- Lingsha (Rerun)
Phase 3 (Jan 28 – Feb 12):
- Aglaea (Rerun)
- Sunday (Rerun)
- 4-Stars: Tingyun, Yukong, Dan Heng
Why the Extended Schedule?
Industry reports indicate the delay stems from ongoing adjustments to Edo Star – the highly anticipated Japanese-inspired region planned for Version 4.0. Due to recent diplomatic tensions between China and Japan, developers are carefully revising cultural elements, aesthetics, and background details while maintaining core storylines and character designs.
This extended development window ensures the new region meets quality standards without compromising the game’s narrative vision.
The Dahlia: Your Break Team’s New Best Friend
The star of Version 3.8 is The Dahlia (also known as Constance), a 5-star Fire Nihility support built specifically for Break Effect teams. Her kit includes:
- Entombed Ash ability: Applies Wilt debuff reducing enemy Defense
- Zone creation: Enables Super Break DMG before Weakness Break
- Dance Partners mechanic: Shares Break bonuses with selected teammate
- Perfect synergy with Firefly, Fugue, and Lingsha
Her signature Light Cone “Never Forget Her Flame” boosts Break Effect by up to 120% and increases Break DMG for two teammates!
Silver Lining: More Rewards, More Savings
To compensate for the extended schedule, HoYoverse confirmed:
✅ Additional in-game events throughout the 8-week period ✅ Extra Stellar Jade farming opportunities ✅ Gift of Odyssey event (10 Special Star Rail Passes for 7-day login) ✅ New Apocalyptic Shadow phase near patch end ✅ Expanded endgame content cycles
This gives F2P players more time to accumulate resources before the Version 4.0 meta shift!
Community Reaction: Mixed Feelings
The announcement sparked diverse responses within the Trailblazer community. While some players expressed disappointment about delayed Edo Star exploration, others welcomed the extended saving period and additional banner options. The decision highlights the complex challenges facing global live-service games navigating international sensitivities.
FAQs
Q1: Will Version 4.0 be delayed again after 3.8? Currently, HoYoverse has only confirmed the 8-week extension for Version 3.8, with Version 4.0 scheduled to launch around mid-February 2026. Whether future updates will follow the traditional 6-week cycle or adopt new schedules depends on ongoing development needs, but the developers have stated this adjustment is specifically for the Edo Star content refinement.
Q2: Should I save my Stellar Jades for Version 4.0 or pull in 3.8? It depends on your roster needs! If you lack strong Break Effect supports, The Dahlia offers exceptional value paired with Firefly. However, if you already have meta Break teams (Ruan Mei, Fugue, etc.), the extended 8-week period provides excellent saving opportunities for Version 4.0’s new characters. Expect approximately 60-80 pulls worth of Stellar Jades during the extended patch.
