Genshin Impact version 4.4 launches on January 31, adding Xianyun, Gaming, the Chenyu Vale, new outfits, and new tech features
HoYoverse has announced that Genshin Impact version 4.4 will launch on January 31 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and mobile devices.
Dubbed "Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze", the highlights of this update are:
- Liyue expands northwest to “Chenyu Vale”, a vast mist-shrouded area connecting to Fontaine
- Lantern Rite Festival event and mini games with a free new Xingqiu outfit to redeem
- Two new playable characters: 5-star Anemo catalyst wielder Xianyun, and 4-star Pyro claymore user Gaming
- Free-to-claim rewards including 10+3 Intertwined Fates, 2 Fragile Resins
- Shenhe and Ganyu’s new outfits available at a limited-time discount
The Genshin Impact 4.4 trailer, all the details, and screenshots can be found below via HoYoverse.
Global interactive entertainment brand HoYoverse today announced that Genshin Impact Version 4.4 " Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze" is set to launch on January 31. Liyue will celebrate the annual Lantern Rite and expands further northwest with a new region, Chenyu Vale to explore. Meanwhile, players will have the chance to get various rewards, including 10 + 3 Intertwined Fates, a free Liyue four-star character, and a brand-new outfit for Xingqiu.
This year's Lantern Festival features a brand-new kite theme to welcome a prosperous new year with abundant rewards. New events, mini-games and redeemable items, including Xingqiu's new outfit, will be available to players. Adding to the joy of Teyvat's new year, up to 10 Intertwined Fates can be claimed during the limited-time daily login event, and an additional 3 Intertwined Fates and 2 Fragile Resin will be delivered to players via the in-game mailbox. Ganyu and Shenhe's new outfits will also be launched at a limited-time discount at the in-game store.
Along with Teyvat's new year, Xianyun, the human form of an adeptus that players might have encountered in previous storylines, as well as Gaming, a young Wushou dancer, will join the game as playable characters. The five-star character Xianyun, aka Cloud Retainer is an Anemo catalyst wielder. Xianyun can take a flying leap and dash forward twice in mid-air, or help nearby teammates by boosting the height of their jumps and Plunging Attacks, as well as providing healing. The new four-star Pyro character, Gaming, is a claymore user who incorporates his beloved Wushou arts into his combat style. In the two phases of Version 4.4 Event Wishes, the first one will feature Xianyun, Gaming, and Nahida's rerun, while the latter will feature Xiao and Yae Miko's rerun.
This version will introduce Chenyu Vale, the latest expansion of the Liyue area. It is a beautiful, mist-shrouded area of majestic hills, cascading waterfalls, flourishing villages, and mysterious tales of the adepti. Qiaoying Village is famous for its tea cultivation methods that were imparted to them by the adepti. Further west lies Yilong Wharf, a key trading nexus connecting Fontaine with Liyue. It is distinguished by its remarkable elevator that is powered by the force of water.
However, the majority of Chenyu Vale lies off the beaten track. With the blessing of the adepti, players will be able to transform into a special carp to soar into the sky and reach previously inaccessible areas. During your journey, you will encounter legendary beasts that roam the valley. One of the most formidable and mysterious of them, the "Solitary Suanni," will appear as a boss enemy.
Two significant new technical features will be applied to better represent Chenyu Vale with a touch of shan shui style. Global Far Fog (GFF) allows mist and clouds to change their density and direction along mountains by taking into account altitude, terrain, and other conditions. Another new feature, Gradient Tint Rock, tints mountains cyan, green or tan depending on the height, visibility distance, textural characteristics of the rocks, and the structure of each mountain.
Genshin Impact Version 4.4 will be arriving on January 31, featuring the introduction of Chenyu Vale and the celebration of the Lantern Rite. With cross-progression and Co-Op functions, players can enjoy their adventure across PlayStation, PC, Android, and iOS. The game has been rated T for Teen by ESRB on PS5, PS4, PC, and Google Play, and 12+ on iOS. For more information, please visit Genshin Impact's official website (genshin.hoyoverse.com) or follow @GenshinImpact on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
A Valley Created With New Technology
Being a part of Liyue, Chenyu Vale is also inspired by a traditional oriental aesthetic. To render its hills, valleys, and waterfalls in the distance and near enveloped by clouds and mist in a style similar to shan shui painting, we deployed two new technologies: Global Far Fog (GFF) and Gradient Tint Rock on PlayStation and PC, as well as a simplified version on mobile.
Clouds and mist are constantly present in Chenyu Vale, and the Global Far Fog (GFF) feature allows you to better observe how they take on different forms around the rolling hills. By taking into account height, terrain, and other conditions, the developers were able to allow Volumetric Fog to change in density and direction as it passes through different locations. For example, thick clouds converge in low, narrow areas of the valley, while light mist lingers around the cape of the mountains or open areas.
Inspired by shan shui, a traditional painting style, and ink wash techniques, Gradient Tint Rock technology is a new tool that our artists and developers created to portray different parts of the lofty mountains through transitions between three colors: cyan, green, and tan. By creating various distance fields in 3D and customizing them for each mountain, it is possible to see a different color gradient depending on the altitude, distance, textural characteristics of the rocks, and structure of each mountain. For example, the leafy parts, the summit and the ubac will appear in dark cyan and green, while the barren paths and the lower parts can gradually integrate into a lighter earthy tan, hence the name of the technique: Gradient Tint Rock.
We highly recommend exploring the peak of Mt. Lingmeng or Mt. Mingyuan, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of Chenyu Vale. With Global Far Fog and Gradient Tint Rock, we want to offer you an even more intense and visually impressive experience during your exploration journey.
