2021 is here and miHoYo show no sign of slowing down, the 1.2 update released on December 23rd and with it came a new seasonal event.
Here is everything you need to know.
Release Date
miHoYo have confirmed that the 1.2 update will be arriving on December 23rd.
Downtime begins at 6am GMT+8, which should be 10pm UK time on December 22nd.
This update will see a new snow biome and seasonal event added to the game, as well as new characters, items, weapons and more.
Seasonal Event
A new seasonal event titled “The Chalk Prince and the Dragon” will take place in Dragonspine.
The event will be available to all players above level 20.
"In the event’s storyline, you will be assisting the new 5-star character Albedo, Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt, to investigate Dragonspine and a mysterious, powerful sword called Festering Desire. Travelers who finish the storyline quests will be able to keep and use Festering Desire in their future adventures. By completing additional event tasks and redeeming relevant items from the event shop, players can even raise Festering Desire to its max refinement level!"
The event will start after the 1.2 update goes live and will end on January 5th.
During the event, Travelers can obtain the 4-star sword Festering Desire for free.
Complete various quests in Dragonspine to obtain Essences, which can be used to redeem items in the Event Shop.
Dragonspine
In a blog post by Sony, it was revealed that the games first map expansion, Dragonspine would be released on December 23rd.
Dragonspine is a new snow and ice biome which will feature new fortresses and areas to explore, as well as new items to collect and craft.
In the post miHoYo let fans know what to expect with the new update:
"Dragonspine is a frozen mountain range in the south of Mondstadt that few dare to set foot in."
"All Travelers will be able to explore a brand-new immersive environment full of new creatures, mysteries, treasures, and dangers to discover. Whether you choose to investigate the area with Mondstadt’s genius alchemist, Albedo during the upcoming seasonal event, explore the mountain for yourself and discover every inch of the mountains and the secrets they hold, or simply hone your survival skills in this beautiful but brutal environment, Dragonspine has something to offer for every intrepid explorer."
miHoYo also hinted at a lost civilization that has managed to survive at Dragonspine for thousands of years, as well as some enemies having altered appearances as they've had to evolve to brave the harsh conditions of Dragonspine.
Players will also have to be mindful of the environment and that they don't freeze while exploring,
"Before focusing on loot and treasures, all Travelers in Dragonspine have to first strive to survive. Besides your HP and Stamina, you will need to pay close attention to Sheer Cold while fighting, exploring, or even just standing still.
The Sheer Cold bar immediately appears above your HP bar once you enter the Dragonspine area. Sheer Cold will go up if you’re exposed to the cold without any heat source, and once the bar is full you will start losing your health. Unless you find some warmth to stave off the Sheer Cold, this will eventually lead to your death."
To combat the harsh conditions, players will need to look for heat sources to warm up, such as torches, cooking points, and Waypoints.
Dragonspine is set to push players to their limits, but the risk will definitely be worth the reward.
"Dragonspine offers generous rewards to those who manage to explore deep into the mountain and conquer its tallest peak.
To reach the top of Dragonspine, Travelers need to first unseal strange air currents blocking the path. Meanwhile, buried deep in the mountains lies a long-lost ancient civilization, with only stone slabs, tablets, and relics remaining to tell the story of its glory and fall. The more curious and observant Travelers will be able to trigger a series of hidden quests, piece together the clues, uncover the hidden truth, and claim a new 4-star claymore Snow-Tombed Starsilver.
The mountain is also home to some very special ingredients, minerals, recipes, artifacts, and weapons found nowhere else, some of which are certain to come in handy. For instance, Travelers may randomly come across some Dragon’s teeth, which can be forged into the Dragonspine Spear by the weaponsmith at the camp in the foothills.
While exploring Dragonspine, Travelers may also come across some small fragments of a material called Crimson Agate. Collect them and offer them to the Frostbearing Tree to claim rewards useful in battle and exploration, including crafting recipes for the portable heat source Warming Bottle and the new 4-star catalyst Frostbearer."
New Characters
Two new five-star characters will be coming in the 1.2 update, Albedo and Ganyu.
These characters will be featured in the seasonal event questline.
"Albedo is a young yet legendary genius alchemist in Mondstadt, wielding a sword and the power of geo."
"Ganyu is a half human, half-adeptus Cyro archer who serves as an emissary and secretary for the Liyue Qixing."
Available Platforms
Currently Genshin Impact is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android.
The game was released on launch day on PS5 using a backwards compatible version of the PS4 version.
Nintendo Switch
A Nintendo Switch port of the game was expected to launch in September when Genshin Impact came out of beta.
Unfortunately this version was delayed and so far there has been no official release date set.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Genshin Impact promo codes
It is expected to be announced some time after the Genshin Impact 1.1 update with the beta beginning in early 2021 and a expected full release in mid-late 2021.
Playstation 5
The Genshin Impact 1.1 update added compatibility for the upcoming Playstation 5 console.
Genshin Impact will continue to run using the PS4 version of the game, this is to make it easier to release rather than having to create a separate build for the new console.
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