Honkai: Star Rail - This Rumored Feature May Be a Positive Sign for the Astral Express

The Astral Express is a key element in Honkai: Star Rail, acting as the primary mode of transportation for the Nameless as they traverse the universe. This train serves as the Trailblazer’s home base, where players can interact with crewmates and other characters they encounter throughout their journey.

Since the game's inception, fans have been clamoring for a housing system or a customizable bedroom for the Trailblazer aboard the Astral Express. While developer HoYoverse has yet to confirm the possibility of such a feature, some players speculate that it may not be feasible in the near future due to concerns about mobile optimization. However, Honkai: Star Rail appears to be gradually introducing opportunities for players to redecorate various areas of the train, and a recent leak hints at an exciting expansion.

Leaked Feature May Indicate a Major Update for the Astral Express

According to a recent leak from HomDGCat, Honkai: Star Rail is expected to introduce a bathtub feature to the Astral Express in Version 2.7. This addition may include various bathing options and lotions that could enhance the stats of the Trailblazer and potentially other characters, boosting stats like ATK DMG and Ultimate DMG. Some fans have drawn parallels to Zenless Zone Zero’s ramen shop, where players can receive a temporary buff each day.

Potential Bathtub Buffs:

- Bath Efficacy: Boosts ATK

- Clear Fragrance: Enhances Ultimate DMG

- Mysterious Massage: Increases follow-up ATK DMG

- Warm Current: Amplifies damage-over-time (DoT) effects

This rumored bathtub feature could provide a straightforward way for players to enhance their characters' stats without the need for crafting consumables. It would be especially beneficial for those utilizing specific team compositions that rely on certain abilities and attributes. For instance, following the release of Feixiao in Version 2.5, players have begun to form Follow-Up ATK teams, with the Arbiter-General as the main DPS and The Hunt March 7th as the sub-DPS. A Mysterious Massage from the bathtub could help these characters deal even more damage, particularly in challenging battles such as the Forgotten Hall’s Memory of Chaos.

Where Will the Bathtub Fit on the Astral Express?

It remains unclear where the bathtub will be located on the Astral Express. Currently, there is a locked room within the cabin area that many fans believe will become the Trailblazer's bedroom, which they hope to customize. If the leak holds true, this room could transform into the much-anticipated bathing area. Alternatively, Honkai: Star Rail might introduce a completely new section to expand the Astral Express to accommodate the bathtub feature.

While the Astral Express visually appears as a lengthy train with multiple rooms, players can currently only access the Parlor Car and cabin area. The potential expansion of the Astral Express excites fans, as it would literally open new doors for interactive spaces and perhaps even areas where players can showcase memorabilia from various planets, similar to the Brother Hanu TV from Penacony.

The Time Is Ripe for a Housing System in Honkai: Star Rail

Assuming that the locked room on the Astral Express is indeed intended as the Trailblazer's bedroom, Honkai: Star Rail still has the opportunity to implement some form of customization, even if it is limited. It doesn’t need to be as intricate as the Serenitea Pot from Genshin Impact or resemble a full-fledged Sims-style arrangement.

Instead, it could take inspiration from Zenless Zone Zero’s bedroom design, which features fully furnished spaces and a customizable corkboard for displaying photos taken with Agents. This approach could be the ideal way for Honkai: Star Rail to enhance player experience while maintaining smooth performance on mobile devices, especially if the game aims to further develop the Astral Express.