Genshin Impact 4.4 drops 31 January with Xianyun, Gaming, three new skins, Lantern Rite, Chenyu Vale, and more

It's that time again Travelers, as we'll be going back to Liyue to celebrate another Lantern Rite festival when Genshin Impact version 4.4 releases on 31 January!

This upcoming update is quite hefty, featuring two new characters in Xianyun and Gaming; reruns for Nahida, Xiao, and Yae Miko; new character skins for Shenhe, Ganyu, and Xingqiu; the release of a new Liyue region in Chenyu Vale, plenty of new events with tons of rewards, and more!

But before we break down everything new coming in version 4.4, here are the livestream codes! Make sure to redeem them before they expire to get Primogems and other rewards!

• BBQ8AZHUH2CZ - Primogems ×100 + Mystic Enhancement Ore ×10

• MT88AYHCZ2UR - Primogems ×100 + Hero's Wit ×5

• FA9QAGYDZJEV - Primogems ×100 + Mora ×50,000

Xianyun and Gaming join the festivities

Genshin Impact version 4.4 will see the debut of two new characters, one being a familiar friend sporting a new look in Xianyun while the other is an all-new companion in Gaming. Both will have deep ties to this year's Lantern Rite festival, so expect to see them take center stage during the event's festivities.

Xianyun

If Xianyun reminds you of someone, then you're hunch is right. This bespectacled beauty is actually the human form of the Crane Adeptus Cloud Retainer! In previous Lantern Rite festivals and other Liyue events, she talked about making a return to Liyue Harbor, and it seems like she's made her decision this year.

As a valuable ally to us during our travels in Liyue, Cloud Retainer offered a treasure trove of knowledge, both regarding Liyue's sprawling history and in her unique mechanical inventions. Not to mention some embarrassing stories at Ganyu's expense, too.

Xianyun will be a 5-star Anemo Catalyst user with a kit centered on Plunging Attacks. She is able to take to the skies herself before diving on unsuspecting enemies below using her skill while her burst lets her provide healing to her allies and buff the power of their Plunging Attacks.

Xianyun's Story Quest, Grus Serena Chapter: Act I, will also be available starting in version 4.4, letting players know more about the Adeptus and her decision to don a human form.

Gaming

Gaming hails from Chenyu Vale and is a proud practitioner of the Wushou arts, which can be seen in his colourful animations both in and out of combat as he dons lion mask. He is also a part of the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transportation as its reliable Vanguard, helping to transport merchants and their cargo from Yilong Wharf to Liyue Harbor.

Gaming will be a 4-star Pyro Claymore user with a DPS-oriented kit, using his Wushou arts in combat to take down enemies with powerful Plunging Attacks while putting on a bedazzling display.

Alongside the debuts of Xianyun and Gaming, the banners for Genshin Impact version 4.4 will also feature reruns for Nahida, Xiao, and Yae Miko. The version's first half will see the debuts of Xianyun and Gaming alongside Nahida's rerun while Xiao and Yae Miko will have a double rerun banner in the update's second half.

Lantern Rite returns with new skins for Shenhe, Ganyu, and Xingqiu

Genshin Impact version 4.4's main event, Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze, will be centered on this year's Lantern Rite festival, and there will be plenty of rewards given to players in celebration!

For one, there will be another limited-time daily login event where player can get 10 Intertwined Fates for free. An additional 3 Intertwined Fates and 2 Fragile Resin will also be delivered to players via the in-game mailbox.

Completing the event's story and challenges will also earn players rewards, including all-important Primogems and the option to acquire a 4-star character from Liyue for free. The list of 4-star characters that can be acquired from the event include Gaming, Yaoyao, Xiangling, Beidou, Xingqiu, Ningguang, Xinyan, Yun Jin, and Yanfei.

There will also be three new Lantern Rite-themed character skins for Shenhe, Ganyu, and Xingqiu available starting in version 4.4. All three skins can be purchased on the Character Outfit shop with Genesis Crystals, with Shenhe and Ganyu's skins being discounted for the duration of version 4.4 while Xingqiu's skin can be acquired for free as part of the Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze event.

Aside from the main Lantern Rite event, version 4.4 also features three new events in Receiver of Friend From Afar, Journey Through Hilinigmatic Terrain, and Triumphant Frenzy. The Overflowing Mastery event will also get a rerun during this update to give players the chance to earn more character talent enhancement materials.

Liyue gets Chenyu Vale expansion with new boss

Genshin Impact version 4.4 will also introduce Chenyu Vale as the latest expansion for Liyue. It is a beautiful, mist-shrouded area of majestic hills, cascading waterfalls, flourishing villages, and mysterious tales of the Adepti.

Points of interest in Chenyu Valve include Qiaoying Village, famous for its tea cultivation methods that were imparted to them by the adepti, and Yilong Wharf, a key trading nexus connecting Fontaine with Liyue.

As with any new region, there will be new enemies roaming even in the most scenic routes. Among the most formidable foes you can encounter in Chenyu Vale is the Solitary Suanni world boss, which is able to wield both Anemo and Hydro to drive trespassers away from its domain.

Unlike the rest of Liyue, Chenyu Valve lies off the beaten track and navigating its hills and waterfalls can be quite challenging. So, players can use the blessing of the Adepit to transform into a magical carp to soar into the sky and reach areas that would have been otherwise inaccessible.

New graphics features

To let players experience the beauty of Chenyu Vale and the rest of Teyvat, Genshin Impact version 4.4 will also add new graphics features in the form of Global Far Fog (GFF) and Gradient Tint Rock.

GFF allows mist and clouds to change their density and direction along mountains by taking into account altitude, terrain, and other conditions. Meanwhile, 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.

New artifact loadout system and other quality-of-life changes

Aside from the flashy changes listed above, Genshin Impact version 4.4 also features some nice changes under the hood to improve the gameplay experience for players. Chief among these is the new artifact loadout system, something that players have been asking for since the start of the game.

Aside from the new artifact loadout system, other upcoming quality-of-life changes include an increase to the number of party compositions that can be saved in the party setup menu to 15, optimizations to Serenitea Pot furnishings and Test Run challenges, as well as a reminder for collecting Adventure Encounter rewards.

If you want to learn more about the quality-of-life changes coming in version 4.4, check our breakdown here.

For more details on all the new content coming in Genshin Impact version 4.3, check out the full preview livestream here.

Genshin Impact is currently in the second half of version 4.3, which features the debut of the 4-star Pyro Polearm character Chevreuse as well as reruns for the 5-star characters Raiden Shogun and Yoimiya.

Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.

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