Understanding Proxy Illegality in Zenless Zone Zero
Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) by HoYoverse features a unique protagonist role where players become a Proxy, a guide-for-hire who helps others navigate mysterious dimensional anomalies called Hollows. But why exactly is this profession considered illegal in the game world?
The Lore Behind Illegal Proxies
In the fictional city of New Eridu, Hollows are dangerous alternate dimensions that randomly appear and threaten civilization. The government established the Hollow Investigative Association (HIA) as the official, accredited organization to handle Hollow exploration and rescue operations.
Proxies, however, operate outside this legal framework. They are not accredited by the New Eridu City Administration, making their work technically illegal. The key distinctions between legal and illegal operations include:
- Hollow Investigative Association (HIA): Government-sanctioned, operates within legal boundaries, handles officially approved missions
- Proxies: Unlicensed operators, work through the informal Inter-Knot network, take on jobs too risky or morally questionable for official agencies
- Too dangerous for official HIA operators to undertake
- Morally gray or ethically questionable for government agencies
- Time-sensitive situations where bureaucratic approval would take too long
- Private matters that clients prefer to keep off official records
- Using Plug-ins or Cheats: Any third-party software that modifies game behavior, provides unfair advantages, or automates gameplay
- Account Trading: Buying, selling, or transferring your ZZZ account to other players
- Account Sharing: Allowing others to access your account or using someone else's account
- Boosting Services: Paying someone to play on your account to increase your rank or progress
- Exploiting Bugs: Intentionally using game glitches for unfair advantages rather than reporting them
- Warning messages for minor first-time offenses
- Temporary account suspensions
- Permanent account bans with no recovery option
- Loss of all purchased content and progress
- South Korea: Has explicitly criminalized boosting services, with penalties including fines up to approximately 15,000 Euros or imprisonment up to two years
- Most Other Regions: ToS violations result in account-level consequences only, not legal prosecution
- Never share your login credentials with anyone
- Avoid third-party tools, mods, or cheats
- Do not purchase or sell accounts on external platforms
- Report bugs through official channels rather than exploiting them
- Use only official HoYoverse apps and websites
Why Proxies Exist Despite Being Illegal
The demand for Proxies arises because they fill gaps in the system. They often complete missions that are:
The player characters, siblings Belle and Wise (collectively known as the legendary Proxy duo "Phaethon"), use their video rental store Random Play as a legitimate business front while secretly conducting Proxy operations.
The Hollow Deep Dive System (HDD)
What makes the protagonist Proxies special is their access to the Hollow Deep Dive System. This technology allows them to project their consciousness into a Bangboo robot named Eous in real-time, unlike public observation systems that have significant delays. This gives them a tactical advantage in guiding Agents through Hollows remotely.
Real Terms of Service Violations in ZZZ
While the in-game Proxy illegality is purely fictional, there are real activities that can get your ZZZ account banned. HoYoverse released their Fair Use Statement alongside the game's launch in July 2024.
Actual Bannable Offenses
The following activities violate ZZZ's Terms of Service and can result in account suspension or permanent bans:
Consequences of ToS Violations
HoYoverse takes fair play seriously across all their titles including Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd. Consequences for violating ZZZ's Terms of Service may include:
Legal Gray Areas in Gaming
It is worth noting that while account trading and boosting violate Terms of Service, they are generally not criminally illegal in most countries. Terms of Service are contractual agreements, not laws. However, there are exceptions:
Proxy Network and Community
In the game, Proxies connect through the Inter-Knot, an online platform where they share advice, post commissions, and accept jobs. This mirrors real-world gaming communities where players help each other, though through legitimate means.
The Version 2.5 update introduced the Proxy Outpost system, a guild-like feature that officially brings social collaboration into the game. The Intel Board allows players to post difficult Commissions like Notorious Hunts for other members to help complete, providing a legitimate in-game way to get assistance.
Staying Safe While Playing ZZZ
To enjoy Zenless Zone Zero without risking your account:
Remember that the fictional illegality of being a Proxy is part of the game's engaging storyline. The real rules you need to follow are HoYoverse's Terms of Service, which exist to maintain fair play for all players in New Eridu.