Atwo_A2, a lead artist on Zenless Zone Zero, has announced his departure from miHoYo after six years on the project. He is stepping away to pursue a long-held passion: developing his own farming simulation game.
In a recent post on Bilibili, Atwo (also known as 阿兔朋友) thanked the team and the community. He recalled joining when the development group consisted of just over 20 people. He watched the game progress from early white-box prototypes through closed beta, licensing hurdles, launch, the first anniversary, and the second anniversary. With Zenless Zone Zero now an established success that he described as “an incredibly impressive product,” he has completed a smooth handover of his responsibilities and is shifting his focus.
Key Character Designs
Atwo contributed significantly to the game’s distinctive visual identity. He designed many playable Agents, with particular strength in anthropomorphic Thirens and Intelligent Constructs. Notable credits include Billy Kid, Von Lycaon, Ellen Joe, Hoshimi Miyabi, Soukaku, Koleda, Ben, Anton, and later characters such as Ju Fufu, Pan Yinhu, Yuzuha, Manato, and Banyue. Some designs involved collaboration with other artists.
Why He Is Leaving
The decision to leave stems from a creative goal that has been brewing for nearly 20 years. Atwo has been a longtime fan of the farming sim genre, starting with Story of Seasons (known in some regions as Harvest Moon) during his student days and continuing with more recent titles such as Village in the Shade. About two years ago he discussed the idea with Zenless Zone Zero producer Li Zhenyu. The producer offered strong support and practical advice, which helped give Atwo the confidence to move forward while he still felt energetic and willing to take risks.
Next Steps for the New Project
He is now dedicating most of his energy to the unannounced farming simulation project and is seeking early-stage teammates who share enthusiasm for the genre. Interested developers can reach out via private message on Bilibili. Atwo indicated he expects to stay in contact with the Zenless Zone Zero team and may collaborate occasionally in the future.
The community response has mixed appreciation for his past work with curiosity about the new direction. Many players have highlighted the memorable designs he left behind and expressed support for his personal project. For fans of cozy life sims, the prospect of a game shaped by the same creative hand behind some of Zenless Zone Zero’s most distinctive characters offers an intriguing next chapter.
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