Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4 Launches July 15, Fate Collaboration Part 2 Starts July 24
The second Fate collaboration introduces two new limited 5-star characters with distinct mechanics and a free character selector, while the version 4.4 story arc advances the main narrative with a new Himeko form.
Key Facts
- Honkai: Star Rail version 4.4, titled 'The Whistle Roars Amidst the Return to Silence,' launches July 15, 2026, on PC, iOS, Android, and PS5.
- The second Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration starts July 24, adding limited 5-star characters Rin Tohsaka (Quantum, Erudition) and Gilgamesh (Lightning, Destruction).
- Players who log in between July 24 and the end of version 4.6 can choose one free 5-star character: Gilgamesh or Archer from the first collaboration.
- Version 4.4 introduces a limited 5-star version of Himeko called 'Himeko: Departure' (Fire, Erudition) in the event warp.
- Spending 200 Star Rail Special Passes during version 4.4 lets players select one of two collaboration-limited 5-star Light Cones: 'As I Am' or 'In the Abyss of Burning Ideals.'
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Game Spark, Inside.
HoYoverse announced that Honkai: Star Rail version 4.4, titled "The Whistle Roars Amidst the Return to Silence," will release on July 15, 2026, for PC, iOS, Android, and PS5. The update adds a new story arc where the Trailblazer searches for Himeko and confronts the Emanator of Destruction "Return to Silence." A limited 5-star version of Himeko called "Himeko: Departure" (Fire, Erudition) will appear in the event warp. The second collaboration with Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] begins July 24, introducing limited 5-star characters Rin Tohsaka (Quantum, Erudition) and Gilgamesh (Lightning, Destruction). Rin Tohsaka's kit includes the Jeweled Sword Zelretch and a bow attack referencing Ishtar, plus a coordinated attack with Archer. Gilgamesh uses Gate of Babylon, Chains of Heaven, and Enuma Elish, with a coordinated attack featuring Saber. Players who log in between July 24 and the end of version 4.6 can choose one free 5-star character: Gilgamesh or Archer from the first collaboration. Version 4.4 also adds a Sparkle costume, a new pet, and expands the Money Wars: Zero-Sum Game mode.
The story arc in version 4.4 sees the Dual Paradise facing a survival crisis. The Trailblazer pursues the vanished Himeko while seeking the truth about her identity and an incident from 15 years ago, then confronts the Emanator of Destruction "Silence." Himeko: Departure is a Fire-type Erudition character who deploys a field at battle start and summons the robot "Star Opener" to support combat. While the field is active, all allies gain an additional Support Skill to summon Star Opener at any time. If allies are Express crew members, special effects trigger.
The Fate collaboration story begins when Rin Tohsaka, after finishing the Fifth Holy Grail War, wanders into the Dual Paradise. She borrows the Holy Grail, summons a Servant, and attempts to use its power to escape. Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon scatters treasures across the paradise, causing a commotion. The Trailblazer and Rin pursue the treasures while uncovering the truth behind a "Fake Holy Grail War."
Rin Tohsaka accumulates "Gem Energy" in battle, consuming it to deal additional damage to random enemies multiple times. Whenever an ally consumes or recovers SP, her Crit DMG increases and she gains Gem Energy. Gilgamesh accumulates "Interest" each time an ally acts, restoring energy and increasing Ultimate DMG. When Interest reaches a critical value, Gate of Babylon unlocks, dealing multiple damage instances. His Ultimate unleashes Enuma Elish on all enemies.
The version 4.4 event warp runs throughout the patch. The first half features reruns of Sparkle, Dan Heng: Imbibitor Lunae, and Long Night Moon. The second half reruns Kerydra, Anaxa, and Aventurine. Spending 200 Star Rail Special Passes during version 4.4 lets players select one of two collaboration-limited 5-star Light Cones: "As I Am" or "In the Abyss of Burning Ideals."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.