By now, we have had more than a month to explore the expansive open world provided by MiHoYo in their adventure game Genshin Impact. But with a world focused on exploration, there would be some who have reached the cap of what they can do in-game and are awaiting new content to dive into. Overnight, the development team confirmed that Genshin Impact Version 1.1, titled A New Star Arising is scheduled to launch on the PC, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android devices on 11 November 2020. Furthermore, it will lay the groundwork for PlayStation 5 compatibility (backwards compatibility) to be available when the console launches worldwide from the day after.
The upcoming update increases the amount of quest content available to players, including the final parts of the Liyue Chapter which was introduced to players at the game’s launch in September 2020. This means that players will have access to both the extensive prologue chapter which covers the region of Mondstadt and the entire first chapter which covers the asian-themed region of Liyue.
A total of four new playable characters will also be added to the game, including two 5-star characters, “Childe” and Zhongli. “Childe” is a Hydro archer with the ability to switch between melee and ranged combat modes, while Zhongli is a Geo polearm user who deals immense area of effect damage, possesses strong defensive abilities, and has the power to petrify his enemies. Of course, with pull rates as they are in the game’s gacha system, these two will be challenging (or expensive) to acquire depending on your luck. Therefore, you may have better luck pulling the game’s two new 4-star characters: Xinyan and Diona. You can see short previews of all four HERE.
Also introduced in the A New Star Arising update for Genshin Impact is a city reputation system. The Traveler will be able to gradually build up their reputation as they delve into each region and unlock rewards and brand-new region-exclusive items and customisations. These include tools, such as a portable waypoint, portable stove, treasure compass, and oculus resonance stones – all of which should prove value while exploring Teyvat. It is unclear whether actions taken in v1.0 will automatically unlock some of the perks, or whether they are tied to newly introduced quests.
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play open-world action RPG that brings players to the world of Teyvat. The player takes on the role of the mysterious “Traveler,” who sets off on a journey to discover the fate of the lost sibling and unveils the mysterious secrets of Teyvat along the way. Currently, players can explore both Mondstadt and Liyue Harbor, two of the seven major cities in Teyvat, each home to unique cultures, stories, and vast surrounding landscapes, and offering a diversity of creatures, monsters, secrets, and hidden treasures for players to discover. Further cities, stories, characters, and seasonal events will be released as the game progresses.
