Honkai Star Rail players left divided over “shocking” death in 2.0 update

James Busby
Pela crying in Honkai Star Rail

Honkai Star Rail players have given their opinions on the recent 2.0 update character death, with many both enjoying and hating the reveal. 

Character deaths aren’t anything new to HoYoverse games. In fact, fans of Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact will be familiar with these scenarios. Despite this, many Honkai Star Rail players were shocked by an “emotional” death in the game’s 2.0 update. 

However, while many have praised HoYoverse for their writing behind the demise of a beloved, albeit newer character, not everyone in the community is happy. So, here’s what the community had to say about the latest reveal. 

Needless to say, story spoilers will be mentioned throughout so discretion is advised. 

Honkai Star Rail community divided over Firefly death 

After heading into the Reverie Dreamscape, players witness Death pierce Firefly through the chest from behind. While Firefly’s demise itself wasn’t particularly moving, it’s the atmosphere and build-up to the moment that had players bawling.

“I cried during the rooftop scene,” said one player. “The atmosphere and the voice acting were just so good. The death was more like shock or grief for me.” 

The game’s community also praised the current characterization of Honkai Star Rail’s characters, with many feeling invested in the recent story developments. This is one of the major reasons why so many felt both moved and shocked by Firefly’s death. 

After all, HSR doesn’t shy away from creating touching moments, where players build up a relationship with the characters on-screen. It’s for this reason, that many Trailblazers believe that Firefly’s death had a similar feel to popular anime films. 

“You know the anime movies of Your Name, Weathering with You, etc? Exact same vibe or very similar. The writers are definitely following those masterpieces that cause viewers to be emotionally invested in a very short time span of an hour or so,” explained one player. 

However, some Trailblazers weren’t so enamored with the scene, with one player noting how it felt rather rushed. “They tried way too hard to make you care about her in 20 minutes. It did not work. Plus she very clearly isn’t gonna stay dead. Nothing about her death was emotional.”

There’s also the fact that HoYoverse tends to make dead characters reappear again in future story segments. “it’s brutal without a doubt,” commented one player. “I’m sure she is fine more or less, because for sure she will become an enemy in future patch. I don’t think [they’d] spend time and energy for a drip on NPC we see just one time.”

Regardless of what players felt about Firefly’s death in Honkai Star Rail, it’s clear her death has been a divisive one. Whether she will return in the future is also up for debate, but for now, this is one moment players won’t forget any time soon. 

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