HoYoverse Announces Character Reworks for Kafka and Beloved Classics in Honkai Star Rail Version 3.4

Exciting news for fans of Honkai Star Rail! HoYoverse has announced some significant character reworks set to land in their upcoming HSR 3.4 update. During the latest RPG livestream, they revealed that characters like Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, and Jingliu are due for a bit of a revamp. While details are under wraps for now, this move comes in response to fan feedback calling for these once-mighty favorites to regain their former glory.

If everything goes according to their usual schedule, we can expect the HSR 3.4 update to roll out in early July 2025. The buzz around these changes is palpable, especially considering the impact these characters had when they first joined the roster back in 2023. Kafka, in particular, experienced renewed popularity in 2024 with the introduction of Acheron. However, as time has passed, their effectiveness in battle and team strategy has waned. Jingliu, for instance, requires significant resources but still doesn’t quite match up to her peers in terms of damage output, and Kafka hasn’t seen any new damage-over-time allies for some time. Even Mydei, a recent addition, seems to echo Blade a little too closely.

This phenomenon, known as “power creep,” is not unfamiliar to gacha games, yet, it’s surprising since characters in HoYoverse’s modern lineup generally maintain their appeal for longer. For instance, some early stars in Genshin Impact continue to hold their ground on tier lists and can still smoothly navigate endgame trials. Meanwhile, games like Zenless Zone Zero allow you to tackle formidable foes with the initial free trio of characters you receive. They’ve managed to evolve these games without leaving key characters in the lurch.

However, don’t hold your breath for a similar overhaul for all older characters. Others like Bailu, Yanqing, Natasha, Hook, and Welt haven’t been hinted at for a revival anytime soon, and they seem to fall into the category of characters left trailing behind.

On a brighter note for players, there’s a treat in store with the launch of version 3.2! You’ll be able to choose one of two 5-star characters for free, either Ruan Mei or Luocha, giving you something extra to look forward to as the updates continue to roll out.