Hoyoverse is ramping up the hype ahead of the latest update to Genshin Impact. The massively popular open-world RPG’s upcoming version 3.1 update is just around the corner on September 28. While we’ve been awaiting the arrival of the game’s three previously announced new characters, Hoyoverse has just dropped another couple of surprise character reveals on us.
The next version, named “King Deshret and the Three Magi,” will take players to the sandy and ancient desert region of Sumeru, the new zone added in with Genshin Impact’s last major update. Alongside this new location, players will meet already-confirmed characters Candace, Cyno and Nilou in this version’s upcoming banners. Candace and Nilou will both be Hydro characters while the recently-showcased Cyno will use the power of Electro in his justice-bringing exploits.
However, the developers have now also unveiled details of two additional characters, the Dendro-wielding Nahida and the Cryo-attuned character Layla. However, it’s likely that these two will arrive as part of the game’s next version 3.2 update, which is likely to drop in early November. Still, it’s nice to have a first look at who’s heading into the action next.
Layla is described as “a Rtawahist student,” who seems to be highly skilled in the study of “theoretical astrology,” and “draws star charts tirelessly in order to write her thesis.” Aside from being an excellent student, Layla struggles with a sleep disorder of sorts, something that leaves her in a state of being “half-awake, half-asleep, all incredulous.” That’s a state of mind that will resonate with many of us, to be honest. Anyway, Layla can harness the power of the Cryo element and looks set to be available after the arrival of the first three new characters in version 3.1, although there’s no official word as of yet as to when she’ll be available to pull in the game.
Also detailed to some extent is the newly-revealed playable character Nahida. She’s described as the “Physic of Purity” and is actually the Archon of Sumeru. Players will already have some knowledge of Nahida from the Archon quest for the Sumeru region, as she’s also known as the Lesser Lord Kusanali. While there are no specifics shared yet about the character’s weapons, she will obviously draw upon the Dendro element as the Dendro Archon.
For now, players will be able to spend the next month or so getting to know the new characters coming in version 3.1, which launches in a couple of days’ time. For more on what’s coming up on September 28 in “King Deshret and the Three Magi,” you can check out our guide on everything you need to know about Genshin Impact version 3.1.
Genshin Impact is available now and is free to play on PC, PS5, PS4, iOS, and Android devices.
