Mihoyo has just announced that Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn is coming to Genshin Impact as part of a collaboration with PlayStation. Yep, you read that right, one of the most beloved female heroines in recent years is coming to the free-to-play waifu bait RPG. The studio has said this will be the first of many future crossovers to arrive in Genshin Impact, hinting that perhaps the RPG is going to start expanding beyond its own universe, incorporating guest characters and other elements in a similar manner to Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.
It’s a huge move, one that establishes Genshin Impact as far more than just another one of the dozens of popular RPGs on mobile, expanding its reach to millions of players across console and PC in a way that nobody could have expected upon its release. On the surface, it plays as a fairly obvious Breath of the Wild clone, but Mihoyo has managed to fill its universe with locations, personalities, and an unfolding narrative that its audience cares about deeply. The introduction of Aloy is a definitive representation of how far the game has come, drawing the attention of a blockbuster property like Horizon Zero Dawn and its iconic protagonist in a way that subverts all expectations.
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Coming as part of Update 2.1 and 2.2, Aloy will be known as a ‘Saviour from Another World’ when she’s unleashed across all platforms as a free five-star character. PlayStation owners will be granted early access and an extra weapon, as you might expect, but otherwise she will be available to all users on all platforms with no restrictions. Given how Fortnite has seen the likes of Master Chief and Kratos occupy places beyond their legacy platforms, Aloy following suit in Genshin Impact isn’t hugely surprising.
It remains unclear if Aloy will receive her own ‘fish-out-of-water’ questline in the land of Teyvat or will simply be dropped into proceedings with no questions asked, but the potential for character exploration here is so exciting. Her new look is also adorable, maintaining her sense of determination and drive while ensuring it matches the vibrant, saturated anime aesthetic of Genshin Impact perfectly. Her weeaboo makeover is amazing, and could be the start of a new road for Mihoyo to walk upon.
As far as debut crossover events go, this one is fairly unexpected. It draws inspiration from a Western game as opposed to one from Japan or China, leaning into Genshin’s international audience with a free character that will undoubtedly draw in those who’ve never even heard of it before. I’ve already seen a few friends on social media staring in amazement at Aloy’s new design, confused about why she’s suddenly a Pokemon character and why there isn’t a Forbidden West release date yet. I imagine this partnership between Mihoyo and Sony has been in the works for a long time, and given its apparent success, I wouldn’t be surprised if other established IP such as Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, or Ratchet & Clank also make their way over one of these days. Granted, Genshin Impact seems to restrict its character roster to cute girls and dreamy boys, so there might be a few prerequisites before signing up. Sorry Joel, you're not kawaii enough to make the cut.
Regardless of how this all pans out, the impact of Aloy’s presence in Genshin Impact shouldn’t be understated. It’s a declaration from Mihoyo that its world is open to potential suitors, those who seek to promote their games in the land of Teyvat or feel like a crossover would be mutually beneficial to both parties. The studio is also drowning in capital right now, and it’s privy to some of the biggest games in the cultural zeitgeist and how fans will love to see some of their favourites be pulled into Genshin Impact. Aloy has largely been met with surprise, with many fans turning on their heads at the mere idea of a guest character like this suddenly being announced. That’s likely the reaction Mihoyo was hoping for, building up even more interest in the game mere days after its big expansion’s release.
I think the most fascinating thing about all this is how Genshin Impact has now become so much more unpredictable with the coming arrival of Aloy. Fortnite will give out to anyone, whether it be Luke Skywalker or Harry Kane, but Mihoyo will likely be more selective on who it brings into the fold by ensuring they belong in its fantastical universe. The worldbuilding in Genshin Impact is largely serious, as is the narrative, so having Travis Scott waltzing around Liyue might give off the wrong impression. Bring on Aloy, and let’s get wild.
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