The next major Honkai: Star Rail update has a date and a headline: Version 4.4 “In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound” launches on 15 July 2026, and it brings something the Fate franchise fanbase has been waiting for — the second Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration, starring Rin Tohsaka and a completely free Gilgamesh. Whether you are a Star Rail veteran or a Fate fan who has been circling the game since the first collab, this one is worth your attention.
Version 4.4 Launches 15 July — Two Phases, One Big Collab
Version 4.4 rolls out in two phases. Phase 1 begins on 15 July with the debut of Himeko Nova alongside reruns for Sparxie, Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae, and Evernight. Phase 2 opens on 24 July and is where the Fate collab Part 2 begins: Rin Tohsaka’s limited banner goes live and Gilgamesh becomes claimable for free. The full version runs until 25 August 2026.
Honkai: Star Rail is available on iOS, Android, and PC globally — Singapore players access the same global server, so all content and timings are identical regardless of region.
Himeko Nova — Himeko Returns as a 5-Star Fire Erudition DPS
Phase 1 centres on Himeko Nova, an alternate 5-star form of the beloved Astral Express crew member. Nova follows the Path of Erudition and wields Fire, repositioning Himeko as a dedicated ultimate-focused damage dealer with mech synergy. Her banner runs for the entire 40-day version — both Phase 1 and Phase 2 — making her one of the longer-window banners in recent memory, which is useful for Trailblazers who want to save for the Fate collab units and still consider pulling for her.
The version also raises the Currency Wars level cap to 170 and introduces a new weekly boss, Lord Ravager Asat Pramad, who plays a key role in the 4.4 main story.
The Second Fate/stay night Collab — Rin Tohsaka and a FREE Gilgamesh on 24 July
The big headline: Gilgamesh — the King of Heroes himself — is available for free to every player during Version 4.4’s Fate collab event. He joins as a 5-star Lightning-element Destruction character whose kit revolves around his Noble Phantasm, Gate of Babylon. Each time an ally takes an action in combat, Gilgamesh accumulates “Interest”, regenerates Energy, and eventually unlocks a barrage of multi-hit damage through his Skill. Players who participated in Fate Collab Part 1 will also be able to choose between Gilgamesh and Archer as their free copy.
The limited-banner character for this phase is Rin Tohsaka, a 5-star Quantum-element Erudition unit. Rin builds “Gem Energy” through combat, then spends it to fire multiple additional instances of damage at a random target, giving her a playstyle that synergises tightly with Archer from the first collab. Her banner, “The Gem Coursing in Red”, opens 24 July and has no fixed end date — consistent with the format of the first Fate collab’s banners.
Gilgamesh’s signature Light Cone is also available free at 200 cumulative rolls on any banner during the event period.
New Story: Planarcadia on the Brink and the Lord Ravager
On the story front, Version 4.4 deepens the Planarcadia arc. The Trailblazer confronts Lord Ravager Asat Pramad, a newly-unlocked weekly boss, as Planarcadia faces what the trailer describes as a crisis threatening its very survival. The version title — “In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound” — suggests something a lot darker than recent content, and judging by the trailer’s imagery it looks like a memorable narrative chapter. The Fate collab story event, “Holy Grail War: The Second”, runs in parallel with a Fate-exclusive bond system added alongside it.
Version 4.4 “In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound” goes live on 15 July 2026, with the Fate collab and Rin Tohsaka’s banner opening on 24 July. Check the Game News section for further coverage as the version approaches.