The road to the next major planet update has officially begun. Hoyoverse kicked off the new year with a massive reveal for Honkai Star Rail 4.0. The drip marketing campaign has confirmed that the highly anticipated Yao Guang will debut in the upcoming version.
This announcement is particularly significant because it introduces a brand new gameplay mechanic. Yao Guang is not just another addition to the roster. She marks the arrival of the Path of Elation to the playable character pool.
Who is Yao Guang?
Yao Guang is one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance. She holds the title of Seer Strategist aboard the Xianzhou Yuque. Known to her subordinates simply as “Madam Yao,” she is described as a bold and mysterious figure who is willing to face danger head-on.
According to her official introduction, she possesses the ability to divine fortunes, including cursed ones. However, she prefers the thrill of the unknown over knowing every detail beforehand.
In her reveal post, she stated:
“I am General Yao Guang, Seer Strategist aboard the Xianzhou Yuque. Like everyone else, you may simply call me Madam Yao. It’s true, I could have divined the finer details of this encounter, but where’s the fun in that? Being here in person has turned up some rather pleasant surprises.”
Character Profile and Stats
The drip marketing artwork confirms the essential combat details for Yao Guang. While her specific kit remains under wraps until the Version 4.0 livestream, we now know her core attributes:
- Name: Yao Guang
- Rarity: 5-Star
- Element: Physical
- Path: Elation
- Affiliation: Xianzhou Alliance (Yuque)
The inclusion of the Elation Path is the biggest talking point of this update. Previously, players only encountered Elation buffs within the Simulated Universe. This suggests that Yao Guang will likely focus on Follow-Up Attacks and joy-themed mechanics, similar to the blessings found in the roguelike mode.
Honkai Star Rail 4.0 Release Date
Based on the current patch schedule, Honkai Star Rail 4.0 is expected to launch around February 13, 2026.
This release window follows the standard six-week update cycle, assuming Version 3.8 runs for its full duration. Given that Yao Guang was the first character revealed in the drip marketing sequence, players can expect her to feature on the Phase 1 banner when the update goes live.
With a new region likely on the horizon and the introduction of a seventh playable path, Version 4.0 promises to be a turning point for the game. Players should start saving their Stellar Jades now if they want to recruit the Seer Strategist to their team.