If there’s one thing the developers at HoYoVerse do well, it’s character design. Genshin Impact characters have a certain unexplainable appeal–and that appeal is enough to convince some players to spend thousands trying to add them to their roster. Those hoping to have a break from the gacha madness are out of luck, as two new characters have just been announced for Version 2.7.
While Yelan and Kuki Shinobu have been teased as upcoming additions for some time, the official Genshin Impact Twitter account has provided some info on the new Hydro and Electro users.
A mysterious figure, the language used in Yelan’s introduction is curious. The Hydro users ‘claims’ to work for the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and previous datamines have shown that her weapon of choice is a bow. Some have speculated that she may be a good fit as a Support role with low DPS.
For fans of Arataki Itto, a character added to the game last year, the Arataki Gang will sound familiar. It’s unclear what weapon Kuki Shinobu will use, though it seems to be a sword in her hand in the official artwork. She is called a ‘Mender of Tribulations,’ likely paying tribute to many in-game messages implying that Itto is a pain in the neck.
It’s rumored that Yelan will release as a 5-star character and Shinobu will release as a 4-star, likely to be featured along with the newest Hydro user.
The next major update to Genshin Impact, Version 2.6, is scheduled to begin tomorrow, March 29. This update will see the release of the newest 5-star character, Kamisato Ayato. The current head of the Kamisato Clan and the Yashiro Commissioner, Ayato is Ayaka’s brother and a Hydro sword user. The first banner in the new update will introduce him to the gacha pool, and will also see a Venti re-run.
Genshin Impact is available to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and mobile devices. Across all platforms, Genshin Impact is estimated to have grossed $3.7 billion in its first year, the highest ever first-year launch revenue for a video game.