Independent developer miHoYo has announced the release date and details for the next big update coming to Genshin Impact.
The new 1.1 update for the game, “A New Star Approaches,” is coming on November 11th. The update brings with it even more new playable characters, new quests, new seasonal events, and more.
Here’s a rundown on the new content and info, via IGN:
New Characters
The update adds four new characters. Childe is a 5-star hydro archer that, unlike any other character, can switch between melee and ranged attacks. Zhongli is a 5-star geo polearm wielder with high defense, strong area-of-effect attacks, and can petrify enemies. Xinyan and Diona are new 4-star characters who have not yet been detailed, but will offer “more effective elemental combos and combat strategies”.
New Quests
No major details have been revealed for the new series of quests coming in the 1.1 update, but we know that it will include the grand finale of the Liyue chapter, meaning there will be three full acts of quests in the core storyline. Producer and CEO Hugh Tsai tells IGN that more character-specific side quests will be added, too.
Seasonal Event – ‘Unreconciled Stars’
Unreconciled Stars is a two-week event, “which calls on all players to fight back against a sudden and terrible catastrophe facing Teyvat”. The event will add a series of quests, co-op challenges, and will offer rewards including 4-star character Fischl.
Reputation System
The new Reputation system will give players a separate rating in each of the game’s cities, which will build upon completing activities in the surrounding region. Building Reputation will offer region-exclusive rewards, including customisation options and some of the new items listed below.
New Items
New tools include a portable waypoint, portable stove, treasure compass, and oculus resonance stones (which will mark nearby Anemoculi and Geoculi. The update will also add a Wind Catcher item, which stores anemograna to create on-demand wind currents, allowing for more exploration.
A Fun Monster Cameo
More a bit of fun than a meaningful addition, Tsai also tells us that the 1.1 update will add a new special monster called the Forrest Hilichurl. “The team designed this monster as an in-game cameo of our company president, Forrest Liu, in hilichurl form,” the producer explains. “Players, whenever you feel in a bad mood, or there’s something you’re not happy about in the game — and after you’ve voiced your concerns via the Feedback function — please feel free to seek out this most unusual hilichurl and vent all of your frustrations on him with my blessing.”
PS5 Version
Developer miHoYo has also confirmed that the game will be fully playable on PS5, with “with improved graphics and faster load times.”
Here’s the new trailers for the new characters:
English Trailer:
Japanese Trailer:
In related news, developer miHoYo confirmed the next big expansion to the game, Dragonspine, is being released in December – you can read more about that here in our previous report.
Developer miHoYo is also planning on releasing new characters over time, as well as new release platforms. Genshin Impact also earned over $100 million within the first two weeks since it launched.
Genshin Impact is now available for Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and smartphones via iOS or Android. A Nintendo Switch version is planned. We did a thorough review for the game, you can read that here (we recommend it!).
