Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse has finally lifted the lid on its full plans for the popular ARPG’s next version – while slowly dosing us up on Genshin Impact codes – in today’s livestream. Of course, digesting all of this spicy new information is a lot, which is why we’re back again with our Genshin Impact 2.7 livestream rundown.
The Genshin Impact Yelan release date was finally confirmed, alongside that for Kuki Shinobu. Joining Aether and Arataki Itto at the table, Yelan voice actor Laura Post gave us a good look at abilities of the Hydro bow user, who just so happens to own the Yanshang Teahouse in Liyue. Yelan “prefers the thrill of exploring dangerous places and living on the edge”, according to Post.
“Yelan is actually a special intelligence officer that reports to Ninguang”, Post continues, “and she serves as a reliable line of defence in defending Liyue. Even those on the inside like Ganyu don’t know the full extent of Yelan’s duties.” As it turns out, Yelan has a list of notable individuals she’s been keeping tabs on, and it seems the Traveller, unsurprisingly, is one of them.
Meanwhile, Shinobu’s family has traditionally served as maidens of the Narukami Shrine. Shinobu – voiced by Kira Buckland – was sent into servitude at a young age, but “after a certain incident” she left the shrine behind, and chartered her own path in life. This led her to study law in Liyue, where she met Yanfei.
After returning to Inazuma, Shinobu turned down a number of offers for work, opting for a free working environment. And what better way to live freely than with the Arataki Gang? Shinobu’s hangout event – which is also set to arrive in 2.7 – will take us through a day in her life, and hopefully teach us more about how she got involved with Itto and the gang in the first place.
There’s going to be plenty more lore where that came from, too. Archon Quest Interlude Chapter: Perilous Trail will see Yelan, Itto, Shinobu, Xiao, and Yanfei venture further into The Chasm, with the narrative mainly focused on the Yakshas and “the history sealed there”. Needless to say, it’s going to be quite the ride, especially when contrasting Itto’s personality with Xiao’s.
During the quest, Travellers will gradually unlock the combat challenge ‘Realms of Guile and War’. Consisting of four Domains – three with three rounds, and the final one with six – players will have to take down waves of enemies. However, they will have to rearrange their team at the end of each round, based on the rules of each Domain.
By clearing Realms of Guile and War, a new four star, free-to-play bow called Fading Twilight can be attained. Touting Energy Recharge as its secondary stat, alongside a damage-boosting passive, this could be a very solid option for a number of Genshin Impact characters – particularly those who spend most of their time off-field.
Hello, Travelers~#GenshinImpact has teamed up with renowned pop culture lifestyle brand Funko to release a series of Genshin Impact Funko Pops!
Aether, Lumine, and Paimon Funko Pops will be available soon along with more characters~
Follow us for the latest news! pic.twitter.com/crQCO3quoh
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) May 20, 2022
So what does this all mean for the Genshin Impact banner? Well according to HoYoverse, Phase One will see Xiao return for a rerun alongside Yelan. Meanwhile, Kuki Shinobu will join the one and oni Arataki Itto himself on a solo banner in Phase Two. As the featured four star, Shinobu will be getting a rate up for its duration.
Weapon-wise, Genshin Impact 2.7 will introduce Yelan’s Aqua Simulacra bow in Phase One’s weapon banner, with Primordial Jade Winged-Spear featuring alongside it. It still hasn’t been confirmed which five star weapon will accompany Itto’s Redthorn Stonethresher, though previous leaks have suggested it will be the Memory of Dust catalyst.
Related: Genshin Impact Yelan build
Event-wise, there can’t be an Arataki Itto appearance without an Arataki Itto festival. Seriously. The Almighty Arataki Great and Glorious Drumalong Festival is a rhythm game that will really get your fingers and thumbs going. Among the usual assortment of event rewards, players will be able to snag Arataki’s Great and Glorious Drum so they’ll be able to bust out the tunes – which they can create and send to their pals – anytime they want.
Down in The Chasm, players will also get the chance to take part in ‘A Muddy Bizarre Adventure’ (which is absolutely a JoJo reference). Here, players will need to help Hosseini defend a spike from monsters empowered by the dark mud. Expect to earn your Primogems from this one.
But that’s not all, a toy maker from Fontaine will be making his way into town during 2.7, giving players the chance to take part in ‘Core of the Apparatus’. In return for gathering the required materials, you’ll be able to make some pretty neat animated robot toy furnishings that you can display in your teapot.
One technical aspect HoYoverse is integrating into the game that we’re excited to see in Genshin Impact 2.7 is the introduction of talent upgrade and artifact stat recommendations for each character. This will be based on what the majority of players are building on each character, so it’s a great resource for those looking to follow a meta build path.
Finally, HoYoverse announced that a new 41-track OST album for The Chasm, ‘Millelith’s Watch’, will soon be available, alongside a collaboration with Funko that will see Aether, Lumine, and Paimon get their own Pop figures. It also looks like Diluc, Keqing, and a Hilichurl will be getting one in the future.
And with that our Genshin Impact 2.7 livestream rundown is complete. Needless to say, there’s a lot going on in the new version, and it’s certainly shaping up to have been well worth the wait.