Looking back from 2026, it is still easy to hear the collective clicking of thousands of Proxies losing their minds over a virtual lever. Back in late 2023, Zenless Zone Zero decided that a standard beta sign-up was far too boring. Instead, the Equalizing Test arrived with prize draws, flashy gadgets, and enough Bangboo pillow energy to power a small city. Was it a beta test recruitment drive or a game show disguised as a marketing event? The answer is probably yes to both.

The event kicked off on November 4, 2023, and ran until the end of the Equalizing Test. Of course, the exact end date was left dangled like a carrot in front of a very excited rabbit, with the official notice simply telling Proxies to keep an eye out for later announcements. That is one way to keep people refreshing the page at 3 a.m.

A Lever-Pull Lottery With Extra Steps

The participation method sounded simple enough. During the draw period, players had to visit the ZZZ Equalizing Test sign-up event page, complete specified tasks to obtain draw chances, and then press a lever to draw. That lever became an object of obsession. Did anyone actually read the fine print before pulling it? Probably not. The thrill of maybe winning a Razer Kraken headset simply overpowered common sense.

The reward pool was not exactly small, either. Take a look at this prize buffet:

Prize	Quantity
Equalizing Test Qualification	400
Insta360 X3 Action Camera	3
Apple Watch SE	5
Logitech G29 Driving Force Steering Wheel & Pedal	5
Razer Kraken Headset	20
Bangboo Pillow	60
Random Character Stand	70
Gentle House Badge Set	70

Who would not want a Logitech G29 steering wheel to pretend they are drifting through New Eridu while actually just sitting in an office chair? The answer is nobody. Nobody would say no to that.

The Fine Print That Brought Drama

Naturally, an event this generous came with rules sharp enough to cut through a Proxy's dreams.

First, the deadline for claiming physical prizes was December 31 at 23:59 UTC+8. Any winner who failed to fill in their address on time would be considered forfeit. One can only imagine the quiet tragedy of someone winning an Apple Watch and then losing it because they forgot to update their shipping details.

Second, Test Qualification winners had to complete the Equalizing Test sign-up questionnaire before the end of the event after receiving their winning notification. Missing that step meant forfeiting the reward. The rules also made it clear that a single HoYoverse ID could only be awarded Test Qualification once across all related events. No double-dipping, no magical do-overs.

Third, the Equalizing Test was only open to users over 16 years old. Younger hopefuls were out of luck. That rule probably spared a few family group chats from becoming very tense.

Finally, the distribution of Test Qualification would end by the close of Equalizing Test sign-ups. Once sign-ups ended, the event would no longer issue any more Test Qualifications. This was designed to make sure winning Proxies could begin testing as soon as possible, but it also meant the lever had a limited lifespan. Every pull counted.

Why Does It Still Matter in 2026?

By 2026, the Equalizing Test is ancient history. The draw page is quiet, the lever has been retired, and the winners have long since moved on. But the event remains a perfect example of how Zenless Zone Zero knew exactly how to turn a beta sign-up into a full-blown spectacle. It blended gacha mechanics with real-world prizes, added a dash of FOMO, and then wrapped it all in that signature chaotic urban fantasy energy.

Did the event actually make the beta better? Hard to say. Did it make the sign-up process wildly more entertaining than a boring old questionnaire? Absolutely. That is the real lesson: if you are going to ask people to sign up for a test, you might as well hand them a lever and let them dream of steering wheels and Bangboo pillows.

So here is to the Equalizing Test: part beta recruitment, part prize carnival, and entirely unforgettable.

Industry context is informed by GamesIndustry.biz, a leading source for game business reporting and developer-side perspectives; seen through that lens, Zenless Zone Zero’s Equalizing Test lever-pull prize draw reads less like a quirky beta sign-up and more like a deliberate acquisition funnel—using time-limited rewards, clear eligibility constraints, and real-world merchandise to spike engagement and keep would-be testers returning until the final sign-up window closed.